Overproduction of free radical species in embryonal cells exposed to low intensity radiofrequency radiation
Burlaka A, Tsybulin O, Sidorik E, Lukin S, Polishuk V, Tsehmistrenko S, Yakymenko I · 2013
View Original AbstractEven extremely weak cell phone radiation caused DNA damage and cellular stress in developing embryos after prolonged exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed Japanese quail embryos to extremely low-power cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for over 150 hours and found it caused a persistent overproduction of harmful free radicals in developing cells. The radiation also damaged DNA and overwhelmed the embryos' natural antioxidant defenses. This cellular damage could potentially lead to cancer-causing changes in cells.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a concerning mechanism by which even extremely weak radiofrequency radiation can cause biological harm. At just 0.25 microwatts per square centimeter, the exposure level was thousands of times lower than what your cell phone produces when held against your head, yet it still triggered persistent oxidative stress and DNA damage in developing embryos. The science demonstrates that duration of exposure matters as much as intensity. What makes this research particularly significant is that it identifies the specific cellular pathway through which RF radiation may contribute to cancer development. The reality is that our bodies are constantly exposed to similar frequencies from wireless devices, often for hours each day. You don't have to eliminate all wireless technology, but understanding that even low-level chronic exposure can overwhelm your cells' natural repair mechanisms should inform how you use these devices, especially around developing children.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 0.00025 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 900 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 158-360 h discontinuously
Exposure Context
This study used 0.00025 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 25Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 416.7x above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
Long-term exposure of humans to low intensity radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) leads to a statistically significant increase in tumor incidence. Mechanisms of such the effects are unclear, but features of oxidative stress in living cells under RF-EMR exposure were previously reported. Our study aims to assess a production of initial free radical species, which lead to oxidative stress in the cell.
Embryos of Japanese quails were exposed in ovo to extremely low intensity RF-EMR of GSM 900 MHz (0.2...
The exposure resulted in a significant persistent overproduction of superoxide and nitrogen oxide in...
Exposure of developing quail embryos to extremely low intensity RF-EMR of GSM 900 MHz during at least one hundred and fifty-eight hours leads to a significant overproduction of free radicals/reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage of DNA in embryo cells. These oxidative changes may lead to pathologies up to oncogenic transformation of cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2013_overproduction_of_free_radical_515,
author = {Burlaka A and Tsybulin O and Sidorik E and Lukin S and Polishuk V and Tsehmistrenko S and Yakymenko I},
title = {Overproduction of free radical species in embryonal cells exposed to low intensity radiofrequency radiation},
year = {2013},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24084462/},
}