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DNA & Genetic Damage112 citations

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes.

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Schwarz C, Kratochvil E, Pilger A, Kuster N, Adlkofer F, Rüdiger HW. · 2008

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UMTS radiofrequency exposure at 1,950 MHz increased signs of DNA damage in human fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent way, but produced no such effects in lymphocytes.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human cultured fibroblasts and human lymphocyte cultures to 1,950 MHz UMTS electromagnetic fields at specific absorption rates below the safety limit of 2 W/kg. UMTS exposure increased the comet tail factor and induced centromere-negative micronuclei in human cultured fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent way. Incubation for 24 hours at a SAR of 0.05 W/kg produced a statistically significant rise in both the comet tail factor and micronuclei (P = 0.02). No UMTS effect was found in lymphocytes, whether unstimulated or stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin. The researchers concluded that UMTS exposure may cause genetic alterations in some but not in all human cells in vitro.

Why This Matters

The alkaline comet assay and the micronucleus assay were used to ascertain dose and time-dependent genotoxic effects. Five hundred cells per slide were visually evaluated in the comet assay and the comet tail factor was calculated. In the micronucleus assay, 1,000 binucleated cells were evaluated per assay, and the origin of the micronuclei was determined using fluorescence labeled anticentromere antibodies. All evaluations were performed under blinded conditions. At a SAR of 0.1 W/kg, the comet tail factor was significantly increased after 8 hours of incubation (P = 0.02), and the number of micronuclei rose significantly after 12 hours (P = 0.02). Fibroblasts came from three different donors and lymphocytes from three different short-term cultures.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1,2 W/kg
Source/Device
1,950 MHz UMTS
Exposure Duration
24h

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1,2 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 32 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.95 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.95 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes

Human cultured fibroblasts of three different donors and three different short-term human lymphocyte...

UMTS exposure increased the CTF and induced centromere-negative micronuclei (MN) in human cultured f...

UMTS exposure may cause genetic alterations in some but not in all human cells in vitro.

Cite This Study
Schwarz C, Kratochvil E, Pilger A, Kuster N, Adlkofer F, Rüdiger HW. (2008). Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81:755-767, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2008_radiofrequency_electromagnetic_fields_umts_20,
  author = {Schwarz C and Kratochvil E and Pilger A and Kuster N and Adlkofer F and Rüdiger HW.},
  title = {Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes.},
  year = {2008},
  doi = {10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5},
  url = {http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5},
}
DOI: 10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5

Cited By (112 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Human cultured fibroblasts showed increased comet tail factor and centromere-negative micronuclei in a dose- and time-dependent way.
No UMTS effect was obtained with lymphocytes, either unstimulated or stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin.
Incubation for 24 hours at a SAR of 0.05 W/kg generated a statistically significant rise in both the comet tail factor and micronuclei (P = 0.02).
The researchers concluded that UMTS exposure may cause genetic alterations in some but not in all human cells in vitro.
All evaluations were performed under blinded conditions.