The toxic effects of mobile phone radiofrequency (940 MHz) on the structure of calf thymus DNA.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety · 2013 · Harm · Low evidence

← Research stream

HarmLow evidencePaper 4491

Study snapshot

PublicationEcotoxicology and environmental safety · 2013

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Currently, the biological effects of nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs) including radiofrequency (RF) radiation have been the subject of numerous experimental and theoretical studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible biological effects of mobile phone RF (940 MHz, 15 V/m and SAR=40 mW/kg) on the structure of calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) immediately after exposure and 2 h after 45 min exposure via diverse range of spectroscopic instruments. The UV-vis and circular dichroism (CD) experiments depict that mobile phone EMFs can remarkably cause disturbance on ct DNA structure. In addition, the DNA samples, immediately after exposure and 2 h after 45 min exposure, are relatively thermally unstable compared to the DNA solution, which was placed in a small shielded box (unexposed ct DNA). Furthermore, the exposed DNA samples (the DNA samples that were exposed to 940 MHz EMF) have more fluorescence emission when compared with the unexposed DNA, which may have occurred attributable to expansion of the exposed DNA structure. The results of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential experiments demonstrate that RF-EMFs lead to increment in the surface charge and size of DNA. The structure of DNA immediately after exposure is not significantly different from the DNA sample 2 h after 45 min exposure. In other words, the EMF-induced conformational changes are irreversible. Collectively, our results reveal that 940 MHz can alter the structure of DNA. The displacement of electrons in DNA by EMFs may lead to conformational changes of DNA and DNA disaggregation. Results from this study could have an important implication on the health effects of RF-EMFs exposure. In addition, this finding could proffer a novel strategy for the development of next generation of mobile phone.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 940 MHz · 0.04 W/kg · 45 min (assessed immediately after exposure and 2 h after)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mobile phone RF exposure (940 MHz, 15 V/m; SAR=40 mW/kg) was reported to disturb calf thymus DNA structure as assessed by UV-vis and circular dichroism, with exposed samples described as relatively more thermally unstable than shielded (unexposed) DNA. Exposed DNA showed higher fluorescence emission and increased size and surface charge (DLS and zeta potential), and the authors report the conformational changes were not significantly different immediately vs 2 h post-exposure (interpreted as irreversible).

Outcomes measured

Calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) structural/conformational changes (UV-vis, circular dichroism)
Thermal stability of DNA
Fluorescence emission of DNA
DNA size and surface charge (dynamic light scattering, zeta potential)
Reversibility of EMF-induced DNA conformational changes

Limitations

In vitro DNA preparation (calf thymus DNA) rather than cells/organisms
No sample size reported in abstract
Exposure conditions limited to a single frequency/field strength and one exposure duration
Health implications are suggested but not directly tested in biological systems

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 940,
    "sar_wkg": 0.04,
    "duration": "45 min (assessed immediately after exposure and 2 h after)"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) structural/conformational changes (UV-vis, circular dichroism)",
    "Thermal stability of DNA",
    "Fluorescence emission of DNA",
    "DNA size and surface charge (dynamic light scattering, zeta potential)",
    "Reversibility of EMF-induced DNA conformational changes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mobile phone RF exposure (940 MHz, 15 V/m; SAR=40 mW/kg) was reported to disturb calf thymus DNA structure as assessed by UV-vis and circular dichroism, with exposed samples described as relatively more thermally unstable than shielded (unexposed) DNA. Exposed DNA showed higher fluorescence emission and increased size and surface charge (DLS and zeta potential), and the authors report the conformational changes were not significantly different immediately vs 2 h post-exposure (interpreted as irreversible).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro DNA preparation (calf thymus DNA) rather than cells/organisms",
    "No sample size reported in abstract",
    "Exposure conditions limited to a single frequency/field strength and one exposure duration",
    "Health implications are suggested but not directly tested in biological systems"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "940 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "calf thymus DNA",
    "DNA conformation",
    "UV-vis",
    "circular dichroism",
    "fluorescence",
    "dynamic light scattering",
    "zeta potential",
    "thermal stability"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.10.016
PubMed: 23164448

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library