Overproduction of free radical species in embryonal cells exposed to low intensity radiofrequency radiation

Exp Oncol · 2013 · Harm · Low evidence

← Research stream

HarmLow evidencePaper 6726

RF-EMR exposure was associated with significant persistent overproduction of superoxide and nitrogen oxide across all analysis timepoints. Exposed embryos also showed significantly increased TBARS and 8-oxo-dG and significantly decreased superoxide dismutase …

Study snapshot

PublicationExp Oncol · 2013

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Aim: Long-term exposure of humans to low intensity radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) leads to a statistically significant increase in tumor incidence. Mechanisms of such the effects are unclear, but features of oxidative stress in living cells under RF-EMR exposure were previously reported. Our study aims to assess a production of initial free radical species, which lead to oxidative stress in the cell. Materials and methods: Embryos of Japanese quails were exposed in ovo to extremely low intensity RF-EMR of GSM 900 MHz (0.25 µW/cm2) during 158-360 h discontinuously (48 c - ON, 12 c - OFF) before and in the initial stages of development. The levels of superoxide (O2·-), nitrogen oxide (NO·), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and antioxidant enzymes' activities were assessed in cells/tissues of 38-h, 5- and 10-day RF-EMR exposed and unexposed embryos. Results: The exposure resulted in a significant persistent overproduction of superoxide and nitrogen oxide in embryo cells during all period of analyses. As a result, significantly increased levels of TBARS and 8-oxo-dG followed by significantly decreased levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were developed in the exposed embryo cells. Conclusion: Exposure of developing quail embryos to extremely low intensity RF-EMR of GSM 900 MHz during at least one hundred and fifty-eight hours leads to a significant overproduction of free radicals/reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage of DNA in embryo cells. These oxidative changes may lead to pathologies up to oncogenic transformation of cells.

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 typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationJapanese quail embryos (in ovo)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 158–360 h discontinuously (48 c ON, 12 c OFF) in ovo

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Superoxide (O2·-) levels
Nitrogen oxide (NO·) levels
Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)
8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG)
Superoxide dismutase activity
Catalase activity

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
No SAR reported (only power density given)
Animal embryo model; generalizability to humans not established in the provided abstract
Exposure schedule details use unclear unit notation (“c”) in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "GSM 900 MHz",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "158–360 h discontinuously (48 c ON, 12 c OFF) in ovo"
  },
  "population": "Japanese quail embryos (in ovo)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Superoxide (O2·-) levels",
    "Nitrogen oxide (NO·) levels",
    "Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)",
    "8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG)",
    "Superoxide dismutase activity",
    "Catalase activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "RF-EMR exposure was associated with significant persistent overproduction of superoxide and nitrogen oxide across all analysis timepoints. Exposed embryos also showed significantly increased TBARS and 8-oxo-dG and significantly decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities compared with unexposed embryos.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "No SAR reported (only power density given)",
    "Animal embryo model; generalizability to humans not established in the provided abstract",
    "Exposure schedule details use unclear unit notation (“c”) in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "RF-EMR",
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "low intensity",
    "quail embryos",
    "oxidative stress",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "superoxide",
    "nitric oxide",
    "TBARS",
    "8-oxo-dG",
    "DNA oxidative damage",
    "antioxidant enzymes"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mechanisms-oxidative-stress",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Measures ROS/free radicals, lipid peroxidation (TBARS), DNA oxidation (8-oxo-dG), and antioxidant enzymes under RF exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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: Not supplied
PubMed: 24084462

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library