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Benavides RAS, Leiro-Vidal JM, Rodriguez-Gonzalez JA, Ares-Pena FJ, López-Martín E. The HL-60 human promyelocytic cell line constitutes an effective in vitro model for evaluating toxicity, oxidative stress and necrosis/apoptosis after exposure to black carbon particles and 2.45 GHz radio frequency. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161475. [PMID: 36632900 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which atmospheric pollution from particulate matter and/or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may prove harmful to human health have not been extensively researched. We analyzed whether the combined action of EMFs and black carbon (BC) particles induced cell damage and a pro-apoptotic response in the HL-60 promyelocytic cell line when exposed to 2.45 GHz radio frequency (RF) radiation in a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) chamber at sub-thermal specific absorption rate (SAR) levels. RF and BC induced moderately significant levels of cell damage in the first 8 or 24 h for all exposure times/doses and much greater damage after 48 h irradiation and the higher dose of BC. We observed a clear antiproliferative effect that increased with RF exposure time and BC dose. Oxidative stress or ROS production increased with time (24 or 48 h of radiation), BC dose and the combination of both. Significant differences between the proportion of damaged and healthy cells were observed in all groups. Both radiation and BC participated separately and jointly in triggering necrosis and apoptosis in a programmed way. Oxidative-antioxidant action activated mitochondrial anti-apoptotic BCL2a gene expression after 24 h irradiation and exposure to BC. After irradiation of the cells for 48 h, expression of FASR cell death receptors was activated, precipitating the onset of pro-apoptotic phenomena and expression and intracellular activity of caspase-3 in the mitochondrial pathways, all of which can lead to cell death. Our results indicate that the interaction between BC and RF modifies the immune response in the human promyelocytic cell line and that these cells had two fates mediated by different pathways: necrosis and mitochondria-caspase dependent apoptosis. The findings may be important in regard to antimicrobial, inflammatory and autoimmune responses in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Ana Sueiro Benavides
- Institute of Research in Biological and Chemical Analysis, IAQBUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - José Manuel Leiro-Vidal
- Institute of Research in Biological and Chemical Analysis, IAQBUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - J Antonio Rodriguez-Gonzalez
- Department of Applied Physics, Santiago de Compostela School of Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Francisco J Ares-Pena
- Department of Applied Physics, Santiago de Compostela School of Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Elena López-Martín
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Santiago de Compostela School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Lai H, Levitt BB. The roles of intensity, exposure duration, and modulation on the biological effects of radiofrequency radiation and exposure guidelines. Electromagn Biol Med 2022; 41:230-255. [PMID: 35438055 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2065683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we review the literature on three important exposure metrics that are inadequately represented in most major radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure guidelines today: intensity, exposure duration, and signal modulation. Exposure intensity produces unpredictable effects as demonstrated by nonlinear effects. This is most likely caused by the biological system's ability to adjust and compensate but could lead to eventual biomic breakdown after prolonged exposure. A review of 112 low-intensity studies reveals that biological effects of RFR could occur at a median specific absorption rate of 0.0165 W/kg. Intensity and exposure duration interact since the dose of energy absorbed is the product of intensity and time. The result is that RFR behaves like a biological "stressor" capable of affecting numerous living systems. In addition to intensity and duration, man-made RFR is generally modulated to allow information to be encrypted. The effects of modulation on biological functions are not well understood. Four types of modulation outcomes are discussed. In addition, it is invalid to make direct comparisons between thermal energy and radiofrequency electromagnetic energy. Research data indicate that electromagnetic energy is more biologically potent in causing effects than thermal changes. The two likely functionthrough different mechanisms. As such, any current RFR exposure guidelines based on acute continuous-wave exposure are inadequate for health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Lai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Halgamuge MN, Skafidas E, Davis D. A meta-analysis of in vitro exposures to weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phones (1990-2015). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 184:109227. [PMID: 32199316 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To function, mobile phone systems require transmitters that emit and receive radiofrequency signals over an extended geographical area exposing humans in all stages of development ranging from in-utero, early childhood, adolescents and adults. This study evaluates the question of the impact of radiofrequency radiation on living organisms in vitro studies. In this study, we abstract data from 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications (1990-2015) describing 1127 experimental observations in cell-based in vitro models. Our first analysis of these data found that out of 746 human cell experiments, 45.3% indicated cell changes, whereas 54.7% indicated no changes (p = 0.001). Realizing that there are profound distinctions between cell types in terms of age, rate of proliferation and apoptosis, and other characteristics and that RF signals can be characterized in terms of polarity, information content, frequency, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and power, we further refined our analysis to determine if there were some distinct properties of negative and positive findings associated with these specific characteristics. We further analyzed the data taking into account the cumulative effect (SAR × exposure time) to acquire the cumulative energy absorption of experiments due to radiofrequency exposure, which we believe, has not been fully considered previously. When the frequency of signals, length and type of exposure, and maturity, rate of growth (doubling time), apoptosis and other properties of individual cell types are considered, our results identify a number of potential non-thermal effects of radiofrequency fields that are restricted to a subset of specific faster-growing less differentiated cell types such as human spermatozoa (based on 19 reported experiments, p-value = 0.002) and human epithelial cells (based on 89 reported experiments, p-value < 0.0001). In contrast, for mature, differentiated adult cells of Glia (p = 0.001) and Glioblastoma (p < 0.0001) and adult human blood lymphocytes (p < 0.0001) there are no statistically significant differences for these more slowly reproducing cell lines. Thus, we show that RF induces significant changes in human cells (45.3%), and in faster-growing rat/mouse cell dataset (47.3%). In parallel with this finding, further analysis of faster-growing cells from other species (chicken, rabbit, pig, frog, snail) indicates that most undergo significant changes (74.4%) when exposed to RF. This study confirms observations from the REFLEX project, Belyaev and others that cellular response varies with signal properties. We concur that differentiation of cell type thus constitutes a critical piece of information and should be useful as a reference for many researchers planning additional studies. Sponsorship bias is also a factor that we did not take into account in this analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malka N Halgamuge
- Department Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Efstratios Skafidas
- Department Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Devra Davis
- Environmental Health Trust, Teton Village, WY, 83025, USA
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Smith‐Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW, Hobbs CA, Shepard KG, Green AS, Kissling GE, Shockley KR, Tice RR, Bucher JR, Witt KL. Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2020; 61:276-290. [PMID: 31633839 PMCID: PMC7027901 DOI: 10.1002/em.22343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The National Toxicology Program tested two common radiofrequency radiation (RFR) modulations emitted by cellular telephones in a 2-year rodent cancer bioassay that included interim assessments of additional animals for genotoxicity endpoints. Male and female Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats and B6C3F1/N mice were exposed from Gestation day 5 or Postnatal day 35, respectively, to code division multiple access (CDMA) or global system for mobile modulations over 18 hr/day, at 10-min intervals, in reverberation chambers at specific absorption rates of 1.5, 3, or 6 W/kg (rats, 900 MHz) or 2.5, 5, or 10 W/kg (mice, 1,900 MHz). After 19 (rats) or 14 (mice) weeks of exposure, animals were examined for evidence of RFR-associated genotoxicity using two different measures. Using the alkaline (pH > 13) comet assay, DNA damage was assessed in cells from three brain regions, liver cells, and peripheral blood leukocytes; using the micronucleus assay, chromosomal damage was assessed in immature and mature peripheral blood erythrocytes. Results of the comet assay showed significant increases in DNA damage in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). Increases in DNA damage judged to be equivocal were observed in several other tissues of rats and mice. No significant increases in micronucleated red blood cells were observed in rats or mice. In conclusion, these results suggest that exposure to RFR is associated with an increase in DNA damage. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:276-290, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Smith‐Roe
- Division of the National Toxicology ProgramNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Michael E. Wyde
- Division of the National Toxicology ProgramNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Matthew D. Stout
- Division of the National Toxicology ProgramNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - John W. Winters
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc.Research Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Cheryl A. Hobbs
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc.Research Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Kim G. Shepard
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc.Research Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Amanda S. Green
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc.Research Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Grace E. Kissling
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Keith R. Shockley
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Raymond R. Tice
- Division of the National Toxicology ProgramNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - John R. Bucher
- Division of the National Toxicology ProgramNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
| | - Kristine L. Witt
- Division of the National Toxicology ProgramNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNorth Carolina
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Mobile phone specific electromagnetic fields induce transient DNA damage and nucleotide excision repair in serum-deprived human glioblastoma cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193677. [PMID: 29649215 PMCID: PMC5896905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Some epidemiological studies indicate that the use of mobile phones causes cancer in humans (in particular glioblastomas). It is known that DNA damage plays a key role in malignant transformation; therefore, we investigated the impact of the UMTS signal which is widely used in mobile telecommunications, on DNA stability in ten different human cell lines (six brain derived cell lines, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, liver and buccal tissue derived cells) under conditions relevant for users (SAR 0.25 to 1.00 W/kg). We found no evidence for induction of damage in single cell gel electrophoresis assays when the cells were cultivated with serum. However, clear positive effects were seen in a p53 proficient glioblastoma line (U87) when the cells were grown under serum free conditions, while no effects were found in p53 deficient glioblastoma cells (U251). Further experiments showed that the damage disappears rapidly in U87 and that exposure induced nucleotide excision repair (NER) and does not cause double strand breaks (DSBs). The observation of NER induction is supported by results of a proteome analysis indicating that several proteins involved in NER are up-regulated after exposure to UMTS; additionally, we found limited evidence for the activation of the γ-interferon pathway. The present findings show that the signal causes transient genetic instability in glioma derived cells and activates cellular defense systems.
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Gläser K, Rohland M, Kleine-Ostmann T, Schrader T, Stopper H, Hintzsche H. Effect of Radiofrequency Radiation on Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Radiat Res 2016; 186:455-465. [PMID: 27710704 DOI: 10.1667/rr14405.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to electromagnetic fields in the radiofrequency range is ubiquitous, mainly due to the worldwide use of mobile communication devices. With improving technologies and affordability, the number of cell phone subscriptions continues to increase. Therefore, the potential effect on biological systems at low-intensity radiation levels is of great interest. While a number of studies have been performed to investigate this issue, there has been no consensus reached based on the results. The goal of this study was to elucidate the extent to which cells of the hematopoietic system, particularly human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), were affected by mobile phone radiation. We irradiated HSC and HL-60 cells at frequencies used in the major technologies, GSM (900 MHz), UMTS (1,950 MHz) and LTE (2,535 MHz) for a short period (4 h) and a long period (20 h/66 h), and with five different intensities ranging from 0 to 4 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR). Studied end points included apoptosis, oxidative stress, cell cycle, DNA damage and DNA repair. In all but one of these end points, we detected no clear effect of mobile phone radiation; the only alteration was found when quantifying DNA damage. Exposure of HSC to the GSM modulation for 4 h caused a small but statistically significant decrease in DNA damage compared to sham exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first published study in which putative effects (e.g., genotoxicity or influence on apoptosis rate) of radiofrequency radiation were investigated in HSC. Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields did not affect cells of the hematopoietic system, in particular HSC, under the given experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Gläser
- a Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martina Rohland
- b Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | | | - Helga Stopper
- a Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Henning Hintzsche
- a Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Germany
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Megha K, Deshmukh PS, Banerjee BD, Tripathi AK, Ahmed R, Abegaonkar MP. Low intensity microwave radiation induced oxidative stress, inflammatory response and DNA damage in rat brain. Neurotoxicology 2015; 51:158-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Speit G. Genotoxic effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) reported by the REFLEX project are not reproducible. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2014; 771:73-4. [PMID: 24769485 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2014.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Günter Speit
- Universität Ulm, Institut für Humangenetik, D-89069 Ulm, Germany.
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Adlkofer F. Whether or not the genotoxic effects of exposure to continuous wave (CW) radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in HL-60 cells are reproducible, is still an open question. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2014; 771:71-2. [PMID: 24769489 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2014.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Gherardini L, Ciuti G, Tognarelli S, Cinti C. Searching for the perfect wave: the effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cells. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:5366-87. [PMID: 24681584 PMCID: PMC4013569 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15045366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing concern in the population about the effects that environmental exposure to any source of “uncontrolled” radiation may have on public health. Anxiety arises from the controversial knowledge about the effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure to cells and organisms but most of all concerning the possible causal relation to human diseases. Here we reviewed those in vitro and in vivo and epidemiological works that gave a new insight about the effect of radio frequency (RF) exposure, relating to intracellular molecular pathways that lead to biological and functional outcomes. It appears that a thorough application of standardized protocols is the key to reliable data acquisition and interpretation that could contribute a clearer picture for scientists and lay public. Moreover, specific tuning of experimental and clinical RF exposure might lead to beneficial health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Gherardini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Siena, Strada Petriccio e Belriguardo, Siena 53100, Italy.
| | - Gastone Ciuti
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pisa 56025, Italy.
| | - Selene Tognarelli
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pisa 56025, Italy.
| | - Caterina Cinti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Siena, Strada Petriccio e Belriguardo, Siena 53100, Italy.
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