Extremely high-frequency electromagnetic radiation enhances neutrophil response to particulate agonists.
Vlasova II, Mikhalchik EV, Gusev AA, Balabushevich NG, Gusev SA, Kazarinov KD. · 2017
View Original AbstractMillimeter wave radiation at 100 W/m² enhanced immune cell responses through heating effects, raising questions about 5G frequency impacts.
Plain English Summary
Russian scientists exposed blood samples to high-frequency radiation (32.9-39.6 GHz) for 15 minutes and found neutrophils (infection-fighting white blood cells) responded more aggressively to bacterial threats. The enhanced immune response was caused by heating effects, showing electromagnetic radiation can amplify immune system activity.
Why This Matters
This study provides important insight into how millimeter wave frequencies affect immune function, particularly relevant as 5G networks increasingly use these exact frequency ranges (28-39 GHz). The 100 W/m² exposure level used here is significantly higher than typical environmental exposures, but the finding that even thermal heating from EMF can amplify immune responses deserves attention. What makes this research particularly valuable is that it demonstrates measurable biological effects in whole blood samples, not just isolated cells in artificial conditions. The researchers' conclusion that heating was the primary mechanism doesn't diminish the practical concern - if EMF exposure creates enough heating to alter immune function, that's still a biological impact worth understanding. The reality is that our immune systems evolved without constant millimeter wave exposure, and this study adds to growing evidence that these frequencies can influence biological processes.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 10 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 32.9-39.6 GHz
Exposure Context
This study used 10 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 1,000Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 16.7Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
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
we elucidated the effects of MMW radiation on neutrophil activation induced by opsonized zymosan or E. coli in whole blood ex vivo.
After agonist addition to blood, two samples were prepared. A control sample was incubated at ambien...
Results revealed that the response of neutrophils to both agonists was intensified if blood was expo...
Heating blood samples was shown to be the primary mechanism underlying enhanced EHF EMR-induced oxidant production by neutrophils in response to particulate agonists.
Show BibTeX
@article{ii_2017_extremely_highfrequency_electromagnetic_radiation_1410,
author = {Vlasova II and Mikhalchik EV and Gusev AA and Balabushevich NG and Gusev SA and Kazarinov KD.},
title = {Extremely high-frequency electromagnetic radiation enhances neutrophil response to particulate agonists.},
year = {2017},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29194676/},
}