Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Genotoxic effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in HL-60 cells are not reproducible med./bio.

Published in: Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 2013; 755 (2): 163-166

Aim of study (acc. to editor)

To reproduce findings of the REFLEX project on genotoxic effects in the human lymphoblastoid cell line HL-60 (the data have not been published in a scientific journal, but they are part of the Final Report of the REFLEX project).

Background/further details

Two independent repeat experiments were performed. Ionizing radiation (2 Gy) served as a positive control, as well as menadion (10 µM) as positive control for the comet assay and mitomycin C (0.1 µM) for the micronucleus assay.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,800 MHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off for 24 h
  • SAR: 1.3 W/kg
Exposure 2: 1,800 MHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off for 24 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,800 MHz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off for 24 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Setup exposure system described in detail at Speit et al. 2007; cells were exposed in 35-mm Petri dishes
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.3 W/kg - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,800 MHz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off for 24 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 10 W/kg - - - -

Reference articles

  • Speit G et al. (2007): Genotoxic effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in cultured mammalian cells are not independently reproducible

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The attempts to reproduce the induction of genotoxic effects by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in HL-60 cells failed. No genotoxic effects were found. The authors could not find an explanation for the conflicting results. However, the negative repeat experiments suggest that the biological significance of genotoxic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields reported by the REFLEX project should be re-assessed.

Study character:

Study funded by

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