Investigation of the genotoxic effect of microwave irradiation in rat bone marrow cells: in vivo exposure.
Trosic I, Busljeta I, Modlic B. · 2004
View Original AbstractMicrowave radiation at WiFi frequencies caused genetic damage in rat bone marrow cells at exposure levels comparable to some wireless devices.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (WiFi frequency) for 2 hours daily and found increased genetic damage in bone marrow cells after 15 days. This suggests chronic exposure to common wireless device frequencies may harm blood-producing cells.
Why This Matters
This study provides important evidence that microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz can cause genetic damage in living mammals, not just in laboratory cell cultures. The exposure levels used (SAR of 1.25 W/kg) are actually within the range of what you might experience from some wireless devices held close to your body, though higher than typical ambient exposures. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates genetic damage occurring in bone marrow cells, which produce your blood cells throughout your lifetime. The researchers found the most pronounced effects after 15 days of exposure, suggesting that cumulative exposure matters more than single exposures. While the effects appeared transient in this study, the reality is that most of us face continuous, not intermittent, exposure to these frequencies from WiFi, cell phones, and other wireless devices in our daily environment.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 1.25 ± 0.36 W/kg
- Power Density
- 5 – 10 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 2.45 GHz RF/MW
- Exposure Duration
- 2 hours daily ,7 days a week
Exposure Context
This study used 5 – 10 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 500Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 8.3Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
This study used 1.25 ± 0.36 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 3.1x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
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 the genotoxic effect of microwave irradiation in rat bone marrow cells by an in vivo mammalian cytogenetic test.
An in vivo mammalian cytogenetic test (the erythrocyte micronucleus assay) was used to investigate t...
In comparison with the sham-exposed subgroups, the findings of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) reve...
Under the applied experimental conditions the findings revealed a transient effect on proliferation and maturation of erythropoietc cells in the rat bone marrow and the sporadic appearance of micronucleated immature bone marrow red cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{i_2004_investigation_of_the_genotoxic_42,
author = {Trosic I and Busljeta I and Modlic B.},
title = {Investigation of the genotoxic effect of microwave irradiation in rat bone marrow cells: in vivo exposure.},
year = {2004},
url = {http://mutage.oxfordjournals.org/content/19/5/361.short},
}