RF Safe

[Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro].

Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases · 2006 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6438

LECs exposed for 2 hours to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwaves showed no significant increase in DNA breaks at SAR 1 or 2 W/kg at any detection time. At SAR 3 and 4 W/kg, DNA breaks differed from sham immediately and at 30 min post-exposure; the difference r…

Study snapshot

PublicationZhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases · 2006
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the DNA damage of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) caused by acute exposure to low-power 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation and DNA repair. METHODS: Cultured LECs were exposed to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation at SAR (specific absorption rate) of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 W/kg for 2 hours in an sXc-1800 incubator and irradiate system. The DNA single strand breaks were detected with comet assay in sham-irradiated cells and irradiated cells incubated for varying periods: 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after irradiation. Images of comets were digitized and analyzed using an Imagine-pro plus software, and the indexes used in this study were tail length (TL) and tail moment (TM). RESULTS: The difference in DNA-breaks between the exposure and sham exposure groups induced by 1 and 2 W/kg irradiation was not significant at every detect time (P > 0.05). As for the dosage of 3 and 4 W/kg there was difference in both group immediately after irradiation (P < 0.01). At the time of 30 min after irradiation the difference went on at both group (P < 0.01). However, the difference disappeared after one hour's incubation in 3 W/kg group (P > 0.05), and existed in 4 W/kg group. CONCLUSION: No or repairable DNA damage was observed after 2 hour irradiation of 1.8 GHz microwave on LECs when SAR < or = 3 W/kg. The DNA damages caused by 4 W/kg irradiation were irreversible.

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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 typein_vitro
Effect directionmixed
PopulationCultured human lens epithelial cells (LECs)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 4 W/kg · 2 hours (with post-exposure incubation assessments at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 min)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

LECs exposed for 2 hours to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwaves showed no significant increase in DNA breaks at SAR 1 or 2 W/kg at any detection time. At SAR 3 and 4 W/kg, DNA breaks differed from sham immediately and at 30 min post-exposure; the difference resolved by 60 min in the 3 W/kg group but persisted in the 4 W/kg group.

Outcomes measured

  • DNA single-strand breaks (comet assay)
  • Tail length (TL)
  • Tail moment (TM)
  • DNA repair over time post-exposure

Limitations

  • In vitro cell culture study (generalizability to humans not established in abstract)
  • Acute exposure only (2 hours)
  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Only comet assay indices (TL, TM) reported as endpoints
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "2 hours (with post-exposure incubation assessments at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 min)"
  },
  "population": "Cultured human lens epithelial cells (LECs)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA single-strand breaks (comet assay)",
    "Tail length (TL)",
    "Tail moment (TM)",
    "DNA repair over time post-exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "LECs exposed for 2 hours to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwaves showed no significant increase in DNA breaks at SAR 1 or 2 W/kg at any detection time. At SAR 3 and 4 W/kg, DNA breaks differed from sham immediately and at 30 min post-exposure; the difference resolved by 60 min in the 3 W/kg group but persisted in the 4 W/kg group.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell culture study (generalizability to humans not established in abstract)",
    "Acute exposure only (2 hours)",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only comet assay indices (TL, TM) reported as endpoints"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave",
    "radiofrequency",
    "1.8 GHz",
    "217 Hz modulation",
    "mobile phone",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "lens epithelial cells",
    "DNA damage",
    "DNA repair",
    "comet assay"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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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: 16978512

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