Effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation on the rats' brain, liver and kidney cells measured by comet assay.

Collegium antropologicum · 2011 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 3217

Study snapshot

PublicationCollegium antropologicum · 2011

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The goal of study was to evaluate DNA damage in rat's renal, liver and brain cells after in vivo exposure to radiofrequency/microwave (Rf/Mw) radiation of cellular phone frequencies range. To determine DNA damage, a single cell gel electrophoresis/comet assay was used. Wistar rats (male, 12 week old, approximate body weight 350 g) (N = 9) were exposed to the carrier frequency of 915 MHz with Global System Mobile signal modulation (GSM), power density of 2.4 W/m2, whole body average specific absorption rate SAR of 0.6 W/kg. The animals were irradiated for one hour/day, seven days/week during two weeks period. The exposure set-up was Gigahertz Transversal Electromagnetic Mode Cell (GTEM--cell). Sham irradiated controls (N = 9) were apart of the study. The body temperature was measured before and after exposure. There were no differences in temperature in between control and treated animals. Comet assay parameters such as the tail length and tail intensity were evaluated. In comparison with tail length in controls (13.5 +/- 0.7 microm), the tail was slightly elongated in brain cells of irradiated animals (14.0 +/- 0.3 microm). The tail length obtained for liver (14.5 +/- 0.3 microm) and kidney (13.9 +/- 0.5 microm) homogenates notably differs in comparison with matched sham controls (13.6 +/- 0.3 microm) and (12.9 +/- 0.9 microm). Differences in tail intensity between control and exposed animals were not significant. The results of this study suggest that, under the experimental conditions applied, repeated 915 MHz irradiation could be a cause of DNA breaks in renal and liver cells, but not affect the cell genome at the higher extent compared to the basal damage.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMale Wistar rats (12 weeks old, ~350 g)

Sample size18

ExposureRF · 915 MHz · 0.6 W/kg · 1 hour/day, 7 days/week for 2 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed in vivo to 915 MHz GSM-modulated RF (power density 2.4 W/m2; whole-body average SAR 0.6 W/kg) showed slightly increased comet tail length in brain cells and notably different tail length in liver and kidney homogenates compared with sham controls, while tail intensity differences were not significant. No temperature differences were observed between exposed and control animals. The authors suggest repeated 915 MHz irradiation could cause DNA breaks in renal and liver cells under these conditions, but not beyond basal damage to a higher extent.

Outcomes measured

DNA damage (comet assay) in brain cells
DNA damage (comet assay) in liver cells
DNA damage (comet assay) in kidney/renal cells
Body temperature (pre/post exposure)

Limitations

Small sample size (N=9 per group)
Tail intensity differences were not significant despite tail length differences
Outcome limited to comet assay parameters; broader biological/clinical relevance not assessed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 915,
    "sar_wkg": 0.6,
    "duration": "1 hour/day, 7 days/week for 2 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Male Wistar rats (12 weeks old, ~350 g)",
  "sample_size": 18,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage (comet assay) in brain cells",
    "DNA damage (comet assay) in liver cells",
    "DNA damage (comet assay) in kidney/renal cells",
    "Body temperature (pre/post exposure)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed in vivo to 915 MHz GSM-modulated RF (power density 2.4 W/m2; whole-body average SAR 0.6 W/kg) showed slightly increased comet tail length in brain cells and notably different tail length in liver and kidney homogenates compared with sham controls, while tail intensity differences were not significant. No temperature differences were observed between exposed and control animals. The authors suggest repeated 915 MHz irradiation could cause DNA breaks in renal and liver cells under these conditions, but not beyond basal damage to a higher extent.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Small sample size (N=9 per group)",
    "Tail intensity differences were not significant despite tail length differences",
    "Outcome limited to comet assay parameters; broader biological/clinical relevance not assessed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "microwave",
    "GSM",
    "915 MHz",
    "GTEM cell",
    "SAR",
    "comet assay",
    "DNA damage",
    "rat",
    "brain",
    "liver",
    "kidney"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "In vivo rat exposure to GSM-modulated 915 MHz cellular-phone-range RF with reported SAR."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: 22397269

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