Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves
Calabrò E, Condello S, Currò M, Ferlazzo N, Caccamo D, Magazù S, Ientile R · 2012
View Original AbstractBrain cells activate stress responses to cell phone radiation at levels below current safety limits, suggesting biological effects occur before thermal damage.
Plain English Summary
Italian researchers exposed human brain cells to cell phone radiation at 1800 MHz for 2-4 hours and measured stress protein responses. They found that the radiation triggered cellular stress responses in the neurons, specifically decreasing one protective protein (Hsp20) and increasing another (Hsp70) after longer exposure. This suggests that cell phone radiation can activate stress pathways in brain cells even at levels considered safe by current standards.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how cell phone radiation affects brain cells at the molecular level. The researchers used exposure levels (SAR of 0.086 W/kg) well below current safety limits, yet still observed measurable biological responses. What makes this particularly significant is that heat shock proteins are the cell's emergency response system - they're activated when cells detect potential threats. The fact that brain cells are mounting this defensive response to cell phone radiation suggests our current safety standards may not adequately protect against biological effects. The reality is that your brain cells don't distinguish between 'safe' and 'unsafe' radiation levels - they simply respond to what they detect as stress.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.000082 mG
- SAR
- 0.086 W/kg
- Power Density
- 0.17 µW/m²
- Electric Field
- 25 V/m
- Source/Device
- 1760 MHz mobile phone microwaves
- Exposure Duration
- 2 h and 4 h
Exposure Context
This study used 0.17 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 17Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 283.3Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
This study used 25 V/m for electric fields:
- 83.3x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
This study used 0.000082 mG for magnetic fields:
- 4.1x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 0.8x above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
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
To investigate putative biological damage caused by GSM mobile phone frequencies by assessing electromagnetic fields during mobile phone working.
Neuron-like cells, obtained by retinoic-acid-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y ...
Cell stress response was evaluated by MTT assay as well as changes in the heat shock protein expres...
The modulation of the expression of Hsps in neuronal cells can be an early response to radiofrequency microwaves
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2012_modulation_of_heat_shock_74,
author = {Calabrò E and Condello S and Currò M and Ferlazzo N and Caccamo D and Magazù S and Ientile R},
title = {Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves},
year = {2012},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3286792/},
}