Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In vitro assessment of clastogenicity of mobile-phone radiation (835 MHz) using the alkaline comet assay and chromosomal aberration test med./bio.

By: Kim JY, Hong SY, Lee YM, Yu SA, Koh WS, Hong JR, Son T, Chang SK, Lee M

Published in: Environ Toxicol 2008; 23 (3): 319-327

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study two kinds of cytogenetic endpoints (alkaline comet assay and chromosome aberration test) on mammalian cells exposed to 835 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields alone and in combination with known model clastogens (cyclophosphamide and ethylmethanesulfonate).

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage; chromosome aberration

Exposure

- RF field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 835 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for up to 48 h	SAR: 4 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	835 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	guided field
Exposure duration	continuous for up to 48 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	TEM cell
Chamber	The TEM exposure system was placed inside a CO₂ incubator at 37°C.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	4 W/kg	-	measured	-	-

Additional parameter details

The TEM exposure system ensured that the radiation was uniform to all cells and produced no significant temperature changes during the experiments (37.0 ± 0.3°C).

Measurement and calculation details

The temperature and the SAR were monitored at the location of the culture dishes during exposure.

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
L5178Y (mouse leukemic cell line (heterozygous at the thymidine kinase gene locus)); CHL (Chinese hamster lung) cells

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (alkaline comet assay); chromosome aberration
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell number; cell viability (Trypan blue exclusion test)

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data suggest that in the chromosome aberration assay the 835 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field did not induce any direct clastogenic effect alone or in combination with the model clastogenic agents, while in the alkaline comet assay the presence of an applied radiofrequency electromagnetic field statistically significantly enhanced the clastogenic activity of model clastogens.
Thus, the authors cannot exclude any possibility of an increased risk of genetic damage, with important implications for the possible health effects of exposure to 835 MHz electromagnetic fields.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

BIT Wireless Communication Devices Research Centre, Soonchunhyang University, Korea

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