The effects of exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to a 1.8 GHz electromagnetic field with or without co-exposure with a Ginkgo biloba extract on the mutation rate, cell viability and cell morphology should be investigated.
Cells were divided into 3 groups: 1) sham exposure, 2) exposure to the electromagnetic field, 3) exposure and addition of 100 µg/ml Ginkgo biloba extract "EGb 761" prior to the exposure.
All experiments were performed as triplicates.
| Frequency | 1.8 GHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 6, 8, 12 and 48 h |
| Modulation type | pulsed |
|---|---|
| Pulse width | 0.576 ms |
| Duty cycle | 12.5 % |
| Repetition frequency | 217 Hz |
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Distance between exposed object and exposure source | 10 cm |
| Chamber | 2 ml round bottom test tubes containing 0.5 lymphocytes solution |
| Setup | rectangular horn antenna was placed vertically above the exposure tubes and radiating downwards; temperature inside the chamber was kept at 37°C by circulating water through a waterbed placed underneath the exposure tubes |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Additional info | no temperature difference was observed between sham exposed and exposed cells |
At all points in time, the mutation rate was significantly higher in group 2 (only exposure) compared to the sham exposure group. At the same time, the mutation rate was significantly lower in group 3 (exposure + EGb 761) compared to group 2.
The cell viability was significantly reduced in group 2 compared to the sham exposure group at all points in time and it was significantly increased in group 3 after 8 hours and 24 hours of exposure compared to group 2.
Morphological abnormalities were spotted in group 2 at each point in time, with a tendency towards more pronounced and severe effects with growing exposure duration (remark EMF-Portal: no examination of other groups and no comparison; result unclear). The effects ranged from variations in the cell size after 6 hours of exposure to distinct organelle and membrane destruction after 48 hours of exposure.
The authors conclude that exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to a 1.8 GHz electromagnetic field might increase the mutation rate, decrease cell viability and alter cell morphology, and that EGb 761 could reduce these effects.
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