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[Effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on chromatin structure of lymphoid cells in vivo and in vitro]

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Gapeev AB, Lushnikov KV, Shumilina IuV, Sirota NP, Sadovnikov VB, Chemeris NK. · 2003

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Twenty minutes of 42 GHz radiation altered immune cell DNA structure within 3 hours at power levels similar to 5G exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to 42 GHz radiation (5G-like frequencies) for 20 minutes and found DNA changes in immune cells within 3 hours. Different immune organs showed opposite effects - some increased damage markers while others decreased them, suggesting complex immune system impacts.

Why This Matters

This study reveals something important about how millimeter wave radiation affects our immune systems at the cellular level. The 42 GHz frequency tested sits right in the range now being deployed for 5G networks, and the power density of 0.15 mW/cm² is well within levels people encounter near cell towers and wireless devices. What makes this research particularly significant is that it shows EMF exposure doesn't just cause random biological chaos - it triggers specific, measurable changes in DNA structure that vary by cell type and organ. The fact that these effects appeared within just 3 hours of a 20-minute exposure demonstrates how quickly our immune cells respond to electromagnetic fields. The researchers' conclusion that these immune changes involve nervous system pathways aligns with growing evidence that EMF effects work through multiple biological systems simultaneously, not just direct cellular damage.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.15 µW/m²
Source/Device
42.0 GHz
Exposure Duration
20 minutes

Exposure Context

This study used 0.15 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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 Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.15 µW/m²Extreme Concern1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit10M uW/m2Effects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 66,666,667x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on chromatin structure of lymphoid cells in vivo and in vitro

Using a comet assay technique, it was shown for the first time that low-intensity extremely high-fre...

In 3 hrs after single whole-body exposure of NMRI mice for 20 min at 42.0 GHz and 0.15 mW/cm2, an in...

We suggested that the effects of low-intensity EHF EMR on the immune system cells are realized with the participation of neuroendocrine and central nervous systems.

Cite This Study
Gapeev AB, Lushnikov KV, Shumilina IuV, Sirota NP, Sadovnikov VB, Chemeris NK. (2003). [Effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on chromatin structure of lymphoid cells in vivo and in vitro] Radiats Biol Radioecol 43(1):87-92, 2003.
Show BibTeX
@article{ab_2003_effects_of_lowintensity_extremely_991,
  author = {Gapeev AB and Lushnikov KV and Shumilina IuV and Sirota NP and Sadovnikov VB and Chemeris NK.},
  title = {[Effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on chromatin structure of lymphoid cells in vivo and in vitro]},
  year = {2003},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12677665/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed mice to 42 GHz radiation (5G-like frequencies) for 20 minutes and found DNA changes in immune cells within 3 hours. Different immune organs showed opposite effects - some increased damage markers while others decreased them, suggesting complex immune system impacts.