Biomarkers in volunteers exposed to mobile phone radiation.

Toxicology letters · 2015 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 6577

Study snapshot

PublicationToxicology letters · 2015

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

For some time it has been investigated whether low-intensity non-thermal microwave radiation from mobile phones adversely affects the mammalian blood-brain barrier (BBB). All such studies except one have been either in vitro or experimental animal studies. The one carried out on humans showed a statistically significant increase in serum transthyretin (TTR) 60 min after finishing of a 30-min microwave exposure session. The aim of the present study was to follow up on the finding of the previous one using a better study design. Using biomarkers analyzed in blood serum before and after the exposure this single blinded randomized counterbalanced study, including 24 healthy subjects aged 18-30 years that all underwent three exposure conditions (SAR(10G)=2 W/kg, SAR(10G)=0.2 W/kg, sham), tested whether microwaves from an 890-MHz phone-like signal give acute effects on the integrity of brain-shielding barriers. Over time, statistically significant variations were found for two of the three biomarkers (TTR; β-trace protein); however, no such difference was found between the different exposure conditions nor was there any interaction between exposure condition and time of blood sampling. In conclusion this study failed to show any acute clinically or statistically significant effect of short term microwave exposure on the serum levels of S100β, TTR and β-trace protein with a follow up limited to two hours. The study was hampered by the fact that all study persons were regular wireless phone users and thus not naïve as to microwave exposure.

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 typerandomized_trial

Effect directionno_effect

Population24 healthy subjects aged 18-30 years

Sample size24

ExposureRF · 890 MHz · 2 W/kg · 30-min microwave exposure session; follow up limited to two hours

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a single-blinded randomized counterbalanced study with three exposure conditions (SAR(10G)=2 W/kg, SAR(10G)=0.2 W/kg, sham), statistically significant variations over time were observed for TTR and β-trace protein, but there were no differences between exposure conditions and no exposure-by-time interaction. The study concluded it failed to show any acute clinically or statistically significant effect of short-term 890-MHz phone-like exposure on serum S100β, TTR, or β-trace protein within a two-hour follow-up.

Outcomes measured

Serum transthyretin (TTR)
Serum β-trace protein
Serum S100β
Acute effects on integrity of brain-shielding barriers (blood biomarkers pre/post exposure)

Limitations

Follow-up limited to two hours
All participants were regular wireless phone users and thus not naïve to microwave exposure

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 890,
    "sar_wkg": 2,
    "duration": "30-min microwave exposure session; follow up limited to two hours"
  },
  "population": "24 healthy subjects aged 18-30 years",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Serum transthyretin (TTR)",
    "Serum β-trace protein",
    "Serum S100β",
    "Acute effects on integrity of brain-shielding barriers (blood biomarkers pre/post exposure)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a single-blinded randomized counterbalanced study with three exposure conditions (SAR(10G)=2 W/kg, SAR(10G)=0.2 W/kg, sham), statistically significant variations over time were observed for TTR and β-trace protein, but there were no differences between exposure conditions and no exposure-by-time interaction. The study concluded it failed to show any acute clinically or statistically significant effect of short-term 890-MHz phone-like exposure on serum S100β, TTR, or β-trace protein within a two-hour follow-up.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Follow-up limited to two hours",
    "All participants were regular wireless phone users and thus not naïve to microwave exposure"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone radiation",
    "microwave exposure",
    "RF",
    "890 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "blood-brain barrier",
    "brain-shielding barriers",
    "biomarkers",
    "serum",
    "transthyretin",
    "beta-trace protein",
    "S100β",
    "single-blinded",
    "randomized",
    "counterbalanced",
    "sham"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Human experimental study of RF exposure with SAR conditions relevant to exposure guidelines."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.03.016
PubMed: 25839137

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