6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Cellular Effects

Proliferation, oxidative stress and cell death in cells exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation and oxidants. Radiat.

Bioeffects Seen

Höytö A, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. · 2008

View Original Abstract
Share:

Exposure to 872 MHz RF radiation alone produced no effects, but GSM-modulated signals increased certain stress markers when cells were also exposed to chemical stressors.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and mouse L929 fibroblast cells to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation at a specific absorption rate of 5 W/kg, using either continuous waves or a GSM-modulated signal. Two statistically significant differences related to RF radiation were found: t-BOOH-induced lipid peroxidation was increased in SH-SY5Y cells, and menadione-induced caspase 3 activity was increased in L929 cells, but both only for the GSM-modulated signal. No other endpoints were significantly affected, and no effects were observed from RF radiation exposure alone.

Why This Matters

The study combined RF radiation exposure with chemical stressors to test whether radiation might amplify existing cellular stress. After 1 or 24 h of exposure, researchers measured reduced cellular glutathione levels, lipid peroxidation, proliferation, caspase 3 activity, DNA fragmentation and viability. The researchers noted that the positive findings may be due to chance, but may also reflect effects that occur only in cells sensitized by chemical stress. The researchers called for further studies to investigate the reproducibility and dose response of the possible effects.

Exposure Details

SAR
5 W/kg
Source/Device
872 MHz
Exposure Duration
1 or 24 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 5 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: 5 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 3 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 872 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 872 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Proliferation, oxidative stress and cell death in cells exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation and oxidants. Radiat.

Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and mouse L929 fibroblast cells were exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency (...

Two statistically significant differences related to RF radiation were observed: Lipid peroxidation ...

Further studies are required to investigate the reproducibility and dose response of the possible effects.

Cite This Study
Höytö A, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. (2008). Proliferation, oxidative stress and cell death in cells exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation and oxidants. Radiat. Res. 170(2):235-243, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2008_proliferation_oxidative_stress_and_1033,
  author = {Höytö A and Luukkonen J and Juutilainen J and Naarala J.},
  title = {Proliferation, oxidative stress and cell death in cells exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation and oxidants. Radiat.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18666817/},
}
PubMed: 18666817

Cited By (85 papers)

View all 85 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and mouse L929 fibroblast cells.
No effects were observed from exposure to RF radiation alone.
Both statistically significant differences were found only for the GSM-modulated signal, not for continuous waves.
The researchers noted the positive findings may be due to chance, but may also reflect effects that occur only in cells sensitized by chemical stress.
Cells were exposed at a specific absorption rate of 5 W/kg in isothermal conditions.