Metabolic changes in cells under electromagnetic radiation of mobile communication systems

Ukr Biokhim Zh (1999) · 2011 · Harm · Low evidence

← Research stream

HarmLow evidencePaper 6730

Study snapshot

PublicationUkr Biokhim Zh (1999) · 2011

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Review is devoted to the analysis of biological effects of microwaves. The results of last years' researches indicated the potential risks of long-term low-level microwaves exposure for human health. The analysis of metabolic changes in living cells under the exposure of microwaves from mobile communication systems indicates that this factor is stressful for cells. Among the reproducible effects of low-level microwave radiation are overexpression of heat shock proteins, an increase of reactive oxygen species level, an increase of intracellular Ca2+, damage of DNA, inhibition of DNA reparation, and induction of apoptosis. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinases ERK and stress-related kinases p38MAPK are involved in metabolic changes. Analysis of current data suggests that the concept of exceptionally thermal mechanism of biological effects of microwaves is not correct. In turn, this raises the question of the need to revaluation of modern electromagnetic standards based on thermal effects of non-ionizing radiation on biological systems.

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 typereview

Effect directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · long-term low-level exposure (mentioned generally)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes recent research suggesting potential risks from long-term low-level microwave exposure from mobile communication systems and describes reported cellular/metabolic stress responses. Reproducible effects described include heat shock protein overexpression, increased ROS and intracellular Ca2+, DNA damage with inhibited repair, and apoptosis, with ERK and p38MAPK implicated; the authors argue effects are not exclusively thermal and suggest standards based only on thermal effects may need re-evaluation.

Outcomes measured

metabolic changes in cells
cellular stress response
heat shock protein overexpression
reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase
intracellular Ca2+ increase
DNA damage
inhibition of DNA repair
apoptosis induction
ERK involvement
p38MAPK involvement
non-thermal mechanisms (challenge to exclusively thermal mechanism)
implications for electromagnetic exposure standards based on thermal effects

Limitations

Narrative review; methods for study selection and quality appraisal are not described in the abstract
No quantitative synthesis or effect sizes reported
Exposure parameters (frequency, SAR, duration) are not specified in the abstract
Population/experimental models underlying the summarized findings are not specified in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "mobile communication systems",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long-term low-level exposure (mentioned generally)"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "metabolic changes in cells",
    "cellular stress response",
    "heat shock protein overexpression",
    "reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase",
    "intracellular Ca2+ increase",
    "DNA damage",
    "inhibition of DNA repair",
    "apoptosis induction",
    "ERK involvement",
    "p38MAPK involvement",
    "non-thermal mechanisms (challenge to exclusively thermal mechanism)",
    "implications for electromagnetic exposure standards based on thermal effects"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review summarizes recent research suggesting potential risks from long-term low-level microwave exposure from mobile communication systems and describes reported cellular/metabolic stress responses. Reproducible effects described include heat shock protein overexpression, increased ROS and intracellular Ca2+, DNA damage with inhibited repair, and apoptosis, with ERK and p38MAPK implicated; the authors argue effects are not exclusively thermal and suggest standards based only on thermal effects may need re-evaluation.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Narrative review; methods for study selection and quality appraisal are not described in the abstract",
    "No quantitative synthesis or effect sizes reported",
    "Exposure parameters (frequency, SAR, duration) are not specified in the abstract",
    "Population/experimental models underlying the summarized findings are not specified in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwaves",
    "mobile communication systems",
    "low-level exposure",
    "metabolic changes",
    "cell stress",
    "heat shock proteins",
    "ROS",
    "calcium",
    "DNA damage",
    "DNA repair",
    "apoptosis",
    "ERK",
    "p38MAPK",
    "non-thermal effects",
    "exposure standards"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Discusses re-evaluation of electromagnetic standards based on thermal effects for non-ionizing radiation."
    }
  ]
}

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: 21851043

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library