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Activation of the TRPV1 Thermoreceptor Induced by Modulated or Unmodulated 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure.

Bioeffects Seen

Ruigrok HJ, Arnaud-Cormos D, Hurtier A , Poque E, de Gannes FP, Ruffié G, Bonnaudin F, Lagroye I, Sojic N, Arbault S, Lévêque P, Veyret B, Percherancier Y · 2018

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TRPV1 channels were activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency field exposure of transiently-transfected HEK293T cells, but found no evidence of TRPV1 activation in the absence of temperature elevation under radiofrequency field exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers monitored TRPV1 activation in real time on live cells using a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technique. Transiently-transfected HEK293T cells were exposed to 1800 MHz radiofrequency signals including CW, GSM, UMTS, LTE, Wi-Fi and WiMAX at specific absorption rates between 8 and 32 W/kg. TRPV1 channels were activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency exposure, but no activation occurred without temperature elevation. Radiofrequency exposure did not alter the maximal efficacy of capsaicin to activate TRPV1 at fixed temperature.

Why This Matters

The researchers aimed to determine whether TRPV1 can be activated by the heat from radiofrequency fields and by a specific nonthermal interaction. They noted that the existence of nonthermal effects of radiofrequency exposure at environmental levels remains controversial.

Exposure Details

SAR
8 and 32 W/kg
Source/Device
1800 MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 8 and 32 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: 8 and 32 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 5 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The existence of effects of radiofrequency field exposure at environmental levels on living tissues and organisms remains controversial, in particular regarding potential "nonthermal" effects produced in the absence of temperature elevation. Therefore, we investigated whether TRPV1, one of the most studied thermosensitive channels, can be activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency fields and by some specific nonthermal interaction with the fields.

We have recently shown that TRPV1 activation can be assessed in real-time on live cells using the bi...

We showed that, as expected, TRPV1 channels were activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency fi...

Cite This Study
Ruigrok HJ, Arnaud-Cormos D, Hurtier A , Poque E, de Gannes FP, Ruffié G, Bonnaudin F, Lagroye I, Sojic N, Arbault S, Lévêque P, Veyret B, Percherancier Y (2018). Activation of the TRPV1 Thermoreceptor Induced by Modulated or Unmodulated 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure. Radiat Res.2018 Jan;189(1):95-103.
Show BibTeX
@article{hj_2018_activation_of_the_trpv1_1302,
  author = {Ruigrok HJ and Arnaud-Cormos D and Hurtier A  and Poque E and de Gannes FP and Ruffié G and Bonnaudin F and Lagroye I and Sojic N and Arbault S and Lévêque P and Veyret B and Percherancier Y},
  title = {Activation of the TRPV1 Thermoreceptor Induced by Modulated or Unmodulated 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure.},
  year = {2018},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29059001/},
}

Cited By (5 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

TRPV1 channels were activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency exposure, but no activation occurred without temperature elevation.
At fixed temperature, radiofrequency exposure did not alter the maximal efficacy of capsaicin to activate TRPV1.
The study used transiently-transfected HEK293T cells. The cells were exposed to 1800 MHz signals including CW, GSM, UMTS, LTE, Wi-Fi and WiMAX at specific absorption rates between 8 and 32 W/kg.
TRPV1 activation was assessed in real time on live cells using a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technique.