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

Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro

Bioeffects Seen

Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. · 2006

View Original Abstract
Share:

No or repairable DNA damage was observed in cultured LECs at SAR at or below 3 W/kg, while damage at 4 W/kg was irreversible.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Cultured LECs were exposed to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation at specific absorption rates of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 W/kg for 2 hours. DNA single strand breaks were detected with comet assay at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after irradiation. At 1 and 2 W/kg, the difference in DNA breaks between exposure and sham exposure groups was not significant at any detection time. At 3 and 4 W/kg, differences were significant immediately and 30 minutes after irradiation, with the difference disappearing after one hour in the 3 W/kg group but persisting in the 4 W/kg group.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to investigate DNA damage of LECs caused by acute exposure to low-power 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation and DNA repair. The indexes used to assess DNA damage were tail length and tail moment. No or repairable DNA damage was observed after 2 hours of 1.8 GHz microwave irradiation on LECs when SAR was at or below 3 W/kg. The DNA damages caused by 4 W/kg irradiation were irreversible.

Exposure Details

SAR
0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 W/kg
Source/Device
1.8 GHz mobile phone (217 Hz modulated)
Exposure Duration
2h

Exposure Context

This study used 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 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: 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 217 Hz - 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 217 Hz - 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate the DNA damage of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) caused by acute exposure to low-power 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation and DNA repair.

Cultured LECs were exposed to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation at SAR (specific absorpti...

The difference in DNA-breaks between the exposure and sham exposure groups induced by 1 and 2 W/kg i...

No or repairable DNA damage was observed after 2 hour irradiation of 1.8 GHz microwave on LECs when SAR < or = 3 W/kg. The DNA damages caused by 4 W/kg irradiation were irreversible.

Cite This Study
Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. (2006). Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 24(8):465- 467, 2006.
Show BibTeX
@article{lx_2006_effect_of_acute_exposure_28,
  author = {Sun LX and Yao K and He JL and Lu DQ and Wang KJ and Li HW.},
  title = {Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro},
  year = {2006},
  
  url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16978512},
}
PubMed: 16978512

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Cultured LECs were exposed to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation at SAR of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 W/kg for 2 hours.
The difference in DNA breaks between the exposure and sham exposure groups induced by 1 and 2 W/kg irradiation was not significant at any detection time.
At 3 W/kg, the difference in DNA breaks was significant immediately and 30 minutes after irradiation, but disappeared after one hour.
The DNA damages caused by 4 W/kg irradiation were irreversible.
DNA single strand breaks were detected with comet assay, using tail length and tail moment as the measurement indexes.