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Oxidative Stress

Reactive oxygen species formation is not enhanced by exposure to UMTS 1950 MHz radiation and co-exposure to ferrous ions in Jurkat cells.

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Brescia F, Sarti M, Massa R, Calabrese ML, Sannino A, Scarfì MR. · 2009

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Exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS radiation, alone or combined with ferrous ions, did not increase reactive oxygen species formation in any of the experimental conditions investigated.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human lymphoblastoid cells exposed to a 1950 MHz UMTS signal at Specific Absorption Rates of 0.5 and 2.0 W/kg. Exposures ranged from short durations of 5 to 60 minutes up to 24 hours, and the study also tested RF radiation given before or at the same time as ferrous ions. RF exposure did not increase ROS formation or affect cell viability, and combining RF with ferrous ions did not produce more ROS than ferrous ions alone.

Why This Matters

The study was designed to assess if radiofrequency radiation induces oxidative stress in cultured mammalian cells when given alone or in combination with ferrous ions. Exposures were conducted in a waveguide system under strictly controlled conditions of both dosimetry and environment. As a positive control, cultures treated with ferrous ions alone showed a dose-dependent increase in ROS formation, confirming the method was sensitive enough to detect an effect when one was present. Cell viability was assessed after 24 hours of RF exposure using the Resazurin and Neutral Red assays, and no change was observed in Jurkat cells.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.5 and 2.0 W/kg
Source/Device
1950 MHz
Exposure Duration
Short (5-60 min) or long (24 h) duration

Exposure Context

This study used 0.5 and 2.0 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.5 and 2.0 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 3 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

This study was designed to assess if radiofrequency (RF) radiation induces oxidative stress in cultured mammalian cells when given alone or in combination with ferrous ions (FeSO(4)).

For this purpose the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry in h...

The results obtained indicate that non-thermal RF exposures do not increase spontaneous ROS formatio...

Cite This Study
Brescia F, Sarti M, Massa R, Calabrese ML, Sannino A, Scarfì MR. (2009). Reactive oxygen species formation is not enhanced by exposure to UMTS 1950 MHz radiation and co-exposure to ferrous ions in Jurkat cells. Bioelectromagnetics.30(7):525-535, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2009_reactive_oxygen_species_formation_877,
  author = {Brescia F and Sarti M and Massa R and Calabrese ML and Sannino A and Scarfì MR.},
  title = {Reactive oxygen species formation is not enhanced by exposure to UMTS 1950 MHz radiation and co-exposure to ferrous ions in Jurkat cells.},
  year = {2009},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19475646/},
}
PubMed: 19475646

Cited By (28 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Non-thermal RF exposures did not increase spontaneous ROS formation in any of the experimental conditions investigated.
Combined exposures to RF radiation and ferrous ions did not increase ROS formation beyond what the chemical treatment alone produced.
Cells treated with ferrous ions as a positive control showed a dose-dependent increase in ROS formation, validating the sensitivity of the method.
The study tested Specific Absorption Rates of 0.5 and 2.0 W/kg, with short exposures of 5 to 60 minutes and long exposures of 24 hours.
No change in cell viability was observed in Jurkat cells exposed to RF radiation for 24 hours.