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915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons.

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Belyaev IY, Hillert L, Protopopova M, Tamm C, Malmgren LO, Persson BR, Selivanova G, Harms-Ringdahl M. · 2005

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Exposure to 915 MHz microwaves or 50 Hz magnetic field caused chromatin condensation in human lymphocytes but did not induce 53BP1 foci or apoptosis.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human lymphocytes from healthy subjects and from persons reporting hypersensitivity to electromagnetic field (EMF) to 915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field, then measured chromatin conformation and markers of DNA damage. Both exposures caused significant chromatin condensation, similar to heat shock at 41 °C, but no significant differences were found between hypersensitive and healthy subjects. Neither 915 MHz nor 50 Hz exposure induced 53BP1 foci, and no apoptosis was induced.

Why This Matters

The study used GSM mobile phone microwaves at 915 MHz with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 37 mW/kg, and a power frequency magnetic field at 50 Hz with a peak value of 15 μT. Chromatin conformation changes were measured using the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencies (AVTD), and the 53BP1 protein was analyzed by immunostaining in situ. Hypersensitive and healthy donors were matched by gender and age, and the data were analyzed blind to treatment condition. A distinct decrease in background level of 53BP1 signaling was observed upon these exposures as well as after heat shock treatments, which may indicate decrease in accessibility of 53BP1 to antibodies because of stress-induced chromatin condensation. The researchers concluded that both fields induced comparable responses in lymphocytes from healthy and hypersensitive donors that were similar but not identical to the stress response induced by heat shock.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.037 W/kg
Source/Device
915 MHz GSM mobile phone

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.037 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 43 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 915 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 915 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate whether 915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons.

We used exposure to microwaves from a global system for mobile communication (GSM) mobile phone (915...

Exposure at room temperature to either 915 MHz or 50 Hz resulted in significant condensation of chro...

In conclusion, 50 Hz magnetic field and 915 MHz microwaves under specified conditions of exposure induced comparable responses in lymphocytes from healthy and hypersensitive donors that were similar but not identical to stress response induced by heat shock.

Cite This Study
Belyaev IY, Hillert L, Protopopova M, Tamm C, Malmgren LO, Persson BR, Selivanova G, Harms-Ringdahl M. (2005). 915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons. Bioelectromagnetics 26:173-184, 2005.
Show BibTeX
@article{iy_2005_915_mhz_microwaves_and_39,
  author = {Belyaev IY and Hillert L and Protopopova M and Tamm C and Malmgren LO and Persson BR and Selivanova G and Harms-Ringdahl M.},
  title = {915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons.},
  year = {2005},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20103},
  url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.20103/abstract},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20103

Cited By (103 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Neither 915 MHz nor 50 Hz exposure induced 53BP1 foci.
No significant differences in responses between normal and hypersensitive subjects were detected.
Exposure to either 915 MHz or 50 Hz resulted in significant condensation of chromatin, similar to the effect of heat shock at 41 °C.
No apoptosis was induced by exposure to 50 Hz and 915 MHz microwaves.
The microwave exposure was at 915 MHz with a SAR of 37 mW/kg, and the magnetic field was at 50 Hz with a peak value of 15 μT.