Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Changes in cell proliferation due to environmental non-ionizing radiation 2. Microwave radiation med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectrochem Bioenerg 1998; 44 (2): 251-255

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate if electromagnetic fields generated by microwave irradiation will have a similar effect on cell proliferation as weak electromagnetic fields.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 960 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 20, 30 and 40 min
  • SAR: 0.021 mW/kg
  • SAR: 0.21 mW/kg
  • SAR: 2.1 mW/kg
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 45 min
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 10, 20, 30 and 40 min

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 960 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for 20, 30 and 40 min
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 12 %
Repetition frequency 217 Hz
Pulse type rectangular
Additional info

simulation of a GSM signal

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber incubator
Setup The cells were seeded into the two central rows (#6 and #7, A-H) of 96-well microtiter plates (flat bottom) in 100 µl of culture medium.
Additional info In the sham exposure experiments, the cell cultures were kept for 30 min in the exposure chamber with the field turned off.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 0.021 mW/kg - calculated - -
SAR 0.21 mW/kg - calculated - -
SAR 2.1 mW/kg - calculated - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 45 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber incubator
Setup The magnetic fields were generated by Helmholtz coils, 12 x 13 cm, 9 cm apart, 2 x 10 turns of 1 mm copper wire and a copper screen. One pair for AC and three orthogonal pairs to change the static field. The coils were wound around a square plastic container placed inside the incubator. The experimental setup has been described before in the reference article.
Additional info Because measurements of each cell showed that the field in both outermost horizontal rows was different from those in the centre, only results from rows B-G were included.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 20 µT unspecified measured - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 10, 20, 30 and 40 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • same setup as in E2
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 30 µT unspecified measured - -
magnetic flux density 40 µT unspecified measured - -
magnetic flux density 50 µT unspecified measured - -
magnetic flux density 60 µT unspecified measured - -
magnetic flux density 80 µT unspecified measured - -

Reference articles

  • Kwee S et al. (1995): Changes in cell proliferation due to environmental non-ionizing radiation 1. ELF electromagnetic fields

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Cell growth in the exposed cells was decreased in comparison to that in the control and sham exposed cells. Cell proliferation during the period following exposure varied with the various SAR levels and with the length of exposure time. At low power level, a maximum effect was first reached after a longer exposure time than at higher power levels. A similar phenomenon was registered in the studies on weak electromagnetic fields.

Study character:

Study funded by

Replication studies

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