Research on electromagnetic radiation from utility smart meters using RF communication.
Smart meters are digital utility devices that automatically transmit your energy usage data to power companies using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in the 900 MHz to 2.4 GHz range. Unlike the old analog meters that required manual readings, these devices communicate wirelessly multiple times per day, creating a new source of EMF exposure directly on your home.
Curcio G et al. · 2008
The study investigated whether repeated brief exposures to a GSM mobile phone signal had a cumulative effect on psychomotor functions. After each of 3 15-min exposures, both an acoustic simple reaction time task and a sequential finger tapping task were administered to subjects. No cumulative effects were detected, though there was a non-statistical trend toward shorter reaction times.
Curcio G et al. · 2008
Italian researchers exposed 24 people to GSM mobile phone radiation (902.40 MHz) for three separate 15-minute sessions and tested their reaction times and finger coordination after each exposure. They found no measurable effects on psychomotor performance, though there was a slight non-significant trend toward faster reaction times. The study suggests that brief, repeated mobile phone exposures at typical power levels don't impair basic motor skills and reflexes.
Unterlechner M, Sauter C, Schmid G, Zeitlhofer J · 2008
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers investigated DNA sensitivity in peripheral blood leukocytes of radar-facility workers daily exposed to microwave radiation and unexposed controls. The study used alkaline comet assay and chromatid breakage assay to evaluate DNA damage and sensitivity. Exposed workers showed increased DNA damage by comet assay and almost three times more bleomycin-induced chromatid breaks than controls. The difference in break per cell values between smokers and non-smokers was statistically significant in the exposed group. Regression analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between the two assay results, with the best correlation between tail moment and number of chromatid breaks.
Unknown authors · 2008
Croatian researchers studied radar workers exposed to microwave radiation (1,250-1,350 MHz) and found significant DNA damage in their blood cells. Workers showed nearly three times more chromosome breaks when exposed to a DNA-damaging chemical compared to unexposed controls. The study suggests occupational microwave exposure may increase cancer susceptibility.
Huang TQ et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed HEI-OC1 immortalized mouse auditory hair cells to 1763 MHz RF at 20 W/kg SAR in a CDMA chamber for 24 and 48 hours. They assessed cell cycle, DNA damage, heat shock protein expression, MAPK phosphorylation, and gene expression, finding no changes in cell cycle, DNA damage, HSP expression, or MAPK phosphorylation. Microarray analysis showed only 29 genes (0.09% of total) changed more than 1.5-fold after exposure.
Manti L et al. · 2008
Italian researchers exposed human blood cells to cell phone radiation (1.95 GHz UMTS signal) for 24 hours, then hit them with X-rays to see if the RF exposure made the radiation damage worse. While the cell phone signals didn't increase the number of damaged cells, they did cause a small but measurable increase in the severity of chromosome damage within each affected cell at the higher exposure level (2.0 W/kg SAR). This suggests RF radiation might interfere with the cell's ability to repair DNA damage from other sources.
Yilmaz F, Dasdag S, Akdag MZ, Kilinc N · 2008
Researchers investigated anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein in rat brain and testes after whole-body exposure to 900 MHz cellular phone radiation. The results showed that 20 minutes of radiation did not alter bcl-2 protein in the brain and testes of rats. The study used two groups of eight Sprague-Dawley rats each, with the experimental group exposed to phones in speech condition for 20 minutes per day for one month and the sham group exposed to turned-off phones. The authors speculated that bcl-2 may not be involved in radiation effects on the brain and testes of rats.
Yilmaz F, Dasdag S, Akdag MZ, Kilinc N. · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to radiation from 900 MHz cell phones for 20 minutes daily for one month to see if it affected bcl-2, a protein that helps prevent cell death in the brain and testes. They found no changes in bcl-2 levels compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that at least for this specific cellular protection mechanism, short-term phone radiation exposure may not cause immediate harm to these organs.
Palumbo R et al. · 2008
The study investigated apoptosis induction after 900 MHz GSM radiation by measuring caspase 3 activation in Jurkat cells and quiescent and proliferating human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Exposure was at 1.35 W/kg for one hour in a temperature-controlled dual wire patch cell system. Caspase 3 activity increased by 32.4% in Jurkat cells and 22% in proliferating lymphocytes 6 hours after exposure, but did not change in quiescent lymphocytes. Apoptosis and viability assessed 24 hours later were unaffected in both cell types. Cell cycle analysis of proliferating T cells also showed no differences between exposed and sham-exposed cultures.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers exposed V79 cells to 935 MHz continuous wave UHF radiation at 8.2 V/cm and 0.12 W/kg SAR for 1, 2, and 3 hours. Microtubule structure was assessed by immunocytochemistry and cell growth was measured by cell counts over five post-exposure days. Microtubule structure was clearly altered after 3 hours of exposure compared to controls (p<0.05). Cell growth was significantly decreased in cells exposed for 3 hours, measured three days after irradiation (p<0.05).
Unknown authors · 2008
Croatian researchers exposed hamster cells to 935 MHz radiation (similar to older cell phone frequencies) for up to 3 hours at very low power levels. They found that 3-hour exposures damaged the cell's internal structure and significantly reduced cell growth for days afterward, suggesting that even brief, low-level exposures can disrupt normal cellular function.
Unknown authors · 2008
Croatian researchers exposed hamster cells to 935 MHz radiation (similar to old cell phone frequencies) at very low power levels for up to 3 hours. They found that the radiation damaged the internal structure of cells and significantly reduced cell growth three days later. This suggests that even weak radiofrequency radiation can disrupt basic cellular functions.
Aly AA et al. · 2008
Researchers studied how 900-MHz radio-frequency fields affect the ability of human neutrophils to follow concentration gradients of Cyclic Adenosine 3', 5'-Monophosphate (C-AMP). Blood from healthy adult donors was exposed in vitro to different temperatures and a 900-MHz RF field at approximately 0.4 V/m. When the 900-MHz RF field was applied, neutrophil speed increased above the value observed at the same temperature, and the maximum speed exceeded that measured at any temperature by approximately 50%. The direction of motion changed from along the concentration gradient and the electrical field lines to motion at right angles to the concentration gradient and the electric field.
Franzellitti S, Valbonesi P, Contin A, Biondi C, Fabbri E. · 2008
Researchers evaluated HSP70 gene and protein expression in human trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cells after 4 to 24 hours of exposure to 1.8 GHz continuous-wave and GSM signals. Inducible HSP70 protein expression was not modified by any exposure condition. HSP70C transcript levels increased after 24 hours of GSM-217Hz exposure and decreased after 4 and 16 hours of GSM-Talk exposure, while HSP70A, HSP70B, and HSC70 transcripts did not change.
Yan JG, Agresti M, Zhang LL, Yan Y, Matloub HS. · 2008
Researchers exposed adult Sprague-Dawley rats to cell phones for 6 hours per day for 126 days and measured mRNA levels of several injury-associated proteins in the brain. The proteins evaluated included Calcium ATPase, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, Neural Growth Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. The results showed statistically significant mRNA up-regulation of these proteins in the brains of exposed rats.
Wu W, Yao K, Wang KJ, Lu DQ, He JL, Xu LH, Sun WJ. · 2008
Researchers used the DCFH-DA method and comet assay to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage in cultured human lens epithelial cells exposed to 4 W/kg 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation or 2 muT electromagnetic noise, or both, for 24 hours intermittently. 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation at 4 W/kg for 24 hours significantly increased intracellular ROS and DNA damage (P<0.05). When electromagnetic noise was added alongside the mobile phone radiation, ROS levels and DNA damage were not significantly elevated compared to sham exposure (P>0.05).
Wu W, Yao K, Wang KJ, Lu DQ, He JL, Xu LH, Sun WJ. · 2008
Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation at 4 watts per kilogram for 24 hours and found it caused significant DNA damage and increased harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. However, when they added electromagnetic 'noise' (random magnetic fields) during the exposure, it completely blocked these harmful effects. This suggests that certain types of electromagnetic interference might actually protect cells from radiation damage.
Wu W, Yao K, Wang KJ, Lu DQ, He JL, Xu LH, Sun WJ. · 2008
Chinese researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) and found it caused DNA damage and increased harmful free radicals. However, when they added electromagnetic 'noise' fields alongside the phone radiation, this protective interference blocked the cellular damage. The study suggests that certain electromagnetic patterns might counteract the harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on eye cells.
Hirose H et al. · 2008
Researchers continuously exposed BALB/3T3 cells to 2.1425 GHz W-CDMA RF fields at SARs of 80 and 800 mW/kg for 6 weeks. They also tested MCA-treated cells and MCA plus TPA-treated cells for tumor promotion and co-promotion effects. No significant differences in transformation frequency were found between RF-exposed groups and sham-exposed controls in any treatment condition. The results suggest that exposure to low-level RF radiation of up to 800 mW/kg does not induce cell transformation.
Hruby R, Neubauer G, Kuster N, Frauscher M · 2008
The study aimed to detect whether long-term exposure to 902-MHz GSM-type wireless communication signals would affect DMBA-induced mammary tumours in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Five hundred female rats were each given a single oral dose of 17 mg DMBA per kg body weight at an age of 46-48 days.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers exposed human neutrophils (white blood cells) to 900-MHz radio frequency radiation at levels comparable to cell phone exposure and found their movement speed increased by 50% compared to temperature effects alone. More significantly, the cells stopped following chemical signals they normally track to fight infection, instead moving at right angles to those signals. The calculated temperature change from the RF exposure was negligible, indicating a non-thermal biological effect.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers exposed human immune cells (neutrophils) to 900-MHz RF radiation at extremely low power levels in laboratory conditions. The RF exposure increased cell movement speed by 50% compared to temperature effects alone and dramatically altered the cells' direction of movement away from their normal chemical tracking pattern. These changes occurred at power levels producing less than one-millionth of a degree of heating.
Unknown authors · 2008
Researchers exposed human immune cells called neutrophils to 900-MHz radio frequency fields at levels comparable to cell phone exposure. The cells moved 50% faster than normal and changed direction, moving perpendicular to their intended path rather than toward chemical signals they normally follow. These effects occurred without measurable heating, suggesting non-thermal biological impacts on immune function.
Sanchez S et al. · 2008
Researchers investigated heat shock protein expression in hairless rat skin exposed to GSM-900 and GSM-1800 signals. They studied Hsc70, Hsp25, and Hsp70 using immunolabeling of epidermal skin slices. Single exposures were 2 hours at 0 and 5 W/kg; repeated exposures were 2 hours per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks at 0, 2.5, and 5 W/kg. Neither single nor repeated exposures altered HSP expression regardless of GSM signal or SAR.