Neoplastic transformation of C3H/10T1/2 cells following exposure to 120-Hz modulated 2.45-GHz microwaves and phorbol ester tumor promoter.
Balcer-Kubiczek EK, Harrison GH. · 1991
View Original AbstractMicrowave exposure alone did not cause neoplastic transformation in C3H/10T1/2 cells, but when combined with a tumor promoter, transformation increased significantly.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed actively growing cultures of C3H/10T1/2 cells for 24 hours to 2.45-GHz microwaves pulse-modulated at 120 Hz. The electromagnetic fields alone had no effect on cell survival or induction of neoplastic transformation. When combined with the tumor promoter TPA, the enhancement of transformation was highly significant and ranged up to a level equivalent to that produced by 1.5 Gy of X rays. The frequency of neoplastic transformation was dependent on the level of electromagnetic exposure and was additive with doses of X rays given as a cocarcinogen.
Why This Matters
The exposure conditions were designed to simulate low-field exposures, with specific absorption rates of 0.1, 1, or 4.4 W/kg. The corresponding electric field peak amplitudes were 18, 56, or 120 V/m, and the magnetic field peak amplitudes were 0.09, 0.27, or 0.56 μT. In separate experiments, a 24-hour electromagnetic field exposure at 4.4 W/kg was preceded or followed by X irradiation at 0.5, 1, or 1.5 Gy. Cells were assayed for cell survival and neoplastic transformation with or without post-treatment administration of 0.1 μg/ml of TPA for the duration of the assay.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.00009, 0.00027, 0.00056 mT
- SAR
- 0.1, 1, or 4.4 W/kg
- Electric Field
- 18, 56, or 120 V/m
- Source/Device
- 2.45-GHz microwaves pulse-modulated at 120 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 24 hours
Exposure Context
This study used 18, 56, or 120 V/m for electric fields:
- 60x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
This study used 0.00009, 0.00027, 0.00056 mT for magnetic fields:
- 4.5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 0.9x 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
In this study, actively growing cultures of C3H/10T 1/2 cells were exposed for 24 h to 2.45-GHz microwaves pulse-modulated at 120 Hz.
Conditions of EM-field exposure were designed to simulate low-field exposures (specific absorption r...
The EM fields alone had no effect on cell survival or induction of neoplastic transformation. Howeve...
Show BibTeX
@article{ek_1991_neoplastic_transformation_of_c3h10t12_839,
author = {Balcer-Kubiczek EK and Harrison GH.},
title = {Neoplastic transformation of C3H/10T1/2 cells following exposure to 120-Hz modulated 2.45-GHz microwaves and phorbol ester tumor promoter.},
year = {1991},
url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/126/1/65/39079/Neoplastic-Transformation-of-C3H-10T-1-2-Cells},
}