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Influence of radiofrequency radiation on chromosome aberrations in CHO cells and its interaction with DNA-damaging agents.

No Effects Found

Kerbacher JJ, Meltz ML, Erwin DN, · 1990

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High-intensity microwave radiation at 33.8 W/kg caused no chromosome damage in laboratory cells, even at levels 20 times higher than typical phone exposures.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed Chinese hamster cells to high-intensity microwave radiation (2450 MHz) at levels far exceeding safety guidelines to see if it would damage chromosomes or make cancer drugs more harmful. Even at these extreme exposure levels-which heated the cells by over 3 degrees-the radiation caused no chromosome damage by itself and didn't increase the genetic damage from chemotherapy drugs. This suggests that radiofrequency radiation at this frequency doesn't directly break DNA or interfere with cellular repair mechanisms.

Study Details

We have therefore tested two hypotheses. The first is that rf radiation by itself, at power densities and exposure conditions which are higher than is consistent with accepted safety guidelines, can induce chromosome aberrations in mammalian cells. The second is that, during a simultaneous exposure to a chemical known to be genotoxic, rf radiation can affect molecules, biochemical processes, or cellular organelles, and thus result in an increase or decrease in chromosome aberrations.

Mitomycin C (MMC) and Adriamycin (ADR) were selected because they act by different mechanisms, and b...

In cells exposed to rf radiation alone, and where a maximum temperature of approximately 40 degrees ...

Cite This Study
Kerbacher JJ, Meltz ML, Erwin DN, (1990). Influence of radiofrequency radiation on chromosome aberrations in CHO cells and its interaction with DNA-damaging agents. Radiat Res 123(3):311-319, 1990.
Show BibTeX
@article{jj_1990_influence_of_radiofrequency_radiation_3132,
  author = {Kerbacher JJ and Meltz ML and Erwin DN and},
  title = {Influence of radiofrequency radiation on chromosome aberrations in CHO cells and its interaction with DNA-damaging agents.},
  year = {1990},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2120738/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed Chinese hamster cells to high-intensity microwave radiation (2450 MHz) at levels far exceeding safety guidelines to see if it would damage chromosomes or make cancer drugs more harmful. Even at these extreme exposure levels-which heated the cells by over 3 degrees-the radiation caused no chromosome damage by itself and didn't increase the genetic damage from chemotherapy drugs. This suggests that radiofrequency radiation at this frequency doesn't directly break DNA or interfere with cellular repair mechanisms.