Reactive oxygen species levels and DNA fragmentation on astrocytes in primary culture after acute exposure to low intensity microwave electromagnetic field
Campisi A, Gulino M, Acquaviva R, Bellia P, Raciti G, Grasso R, Musumeci F, Vanella A, Triglia A · 2010
View Original AbstractEven 20-minute exposures to cell phone-frequency radiation can cause DNA damage and oxidative stress in brain cells.
Plain English Summary
Italian researchers exposed brain cells called astrocytes to 900 MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for up to 20 minutes and measured cellular damage. They found that modulated signals caused significant increases in harmful free radicals and DNA fragmentation, while continuous waves did not produce these effects. The study demonstrates that even brief exposures to low-intensity electromagnetic fields can damage brain cells at the molecular level.
Why This Matters
This research provides important mechanistic evidence for how cell phone-type radiation affects brain tissue. The 900 MHz frequency tested is identical to GSM cell phone signals, and the 10 V/m field strength falls within ranges you might encounter from wireless devices in daily use. What makes this study particularly significant is that it isolated astrocytes, the brain's support cells that maintain the blood-brain barrier and regulate neurotransmitters. The finding that modulated signals caused DNA damage while continuous waves did not suggests that the pulsing nature of digital communications may be more biologically active than steady radiation. The researchers' hypothesis about glutamate receptor overstimulation is especially concerning, as this mechanism is linked to neurodegenerative diseases and brain damage.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 5, 10, or 20 min for 14 days
Study Details
The exposure of primary rat neocortical astroglial cell cultures to acute electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the microwave range was studied
Differentiated astroglial cell cultures at 14 days in vitro were exposed for 5, 10, or 20 min to eit...
No change in cellular viability evaluated by MTT test and lactate dehydrogenase release was observed...
Our findings also suggest the hypothesis that the effects could be due to hyperstimulation of the glutamate receptors, which play a crucial role in acute and chronic brain damage. Furthermore, the results show the importance of the amplitude modulation in the interaction between EMF and neocortical astrocytes.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2010_reactive_oxygen_species_levels_1622,
author = {Campisi A and Gulino M and Acquaviva R and Bellia P and Raciti G and Grasso R and Musumeci F and Vanella A and Triglia A},
title = {Reactive oxygen species levels and DNA fragmentation on astrocytes in primary culture after acute exposure to low intensity microwave electromagnetic field},
year = {2010},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030439401000176X},
}