954 MHz microwaves enhance the mutagenic properties of mitomycin C.
Maes A, Collier M, Slaets D, Verschaeve L. · 1996
View Original AbstractMicrowave radiation from cell towers may amplify DNA damage from environmental chemicals, suggesting combined exposures pose greater risks than previously understood.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human blood samples to 954 MHz microwave radiation from GSM cell towers, then treated the cells with mitomycin C, a chemical known to damage DNA. They found that the microwave exposure significantly amplified the DNA-damaging effects of the chemical, creating what scientists call a 'synergistic effect.' This suggests that radiofrequency radiation may make cells more vulnerable to genetic damage from other environmental toxins.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a troubling interaction that rarely gets attention in EMF safety discussions: how radiofrequency radiation might amplify damage from other environmental toxins. The researchers used 954 MHz, which falls within the frequency range of GSM cell towers that blanket our communities. What makes this particularly concerning is the synergistic effect - the combined exposure caused more DNA damage than you'd expect from simply adding the two effects together. The reality is that we're never exposed to EMF in isolation. We live in a chemical soup of environmental toxins, from pesticides to industrial pollutants. If radiofrequency radiation makes our cells more susceptible to genetic damage from these other exposures, the cumulative health risks could be far greater than regulators assume when they evaluate EMF safety in isolation.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 954 MHz
Study Details
This paper focuses on the combined effects of microwaves from mobile communication frequencies and a chemical DNA damaging agent mitomycin C (MMC).
The investigation was performed in vitro by exposing whole blood samples to a 954 MHz emitting anten...
A highly reproducible synergistic effect was observed as based on the frequencies of sister chromati...
Show BibTeX
@article{a_1996_954_mhz_microwaves_enhance_2399,
author = {Maes A and Collier M and Slaets D and Verschaeve L.},
title = {954 MHz microwaves enhance the mutagenic properties of mitomycin C.},
year = {1996},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2280(1996)28:1%3C26::AID-EM6%3E3.0.CO;2-C},
}