Effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation at 835 MHz on growth, morphology and secretory characteristics of a mast cell analogue
Donnellan M, McKenzie DR, French PW · 1997
View Original AbstractCellphone-level radiation caused lasting immune cell changes that persisted for a week after exposure ended.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed immune cells called mast cells to 835 MHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 20 minutes three times daily over a week. The exposed cells showed increased DNA synthesis, altered cell shape, and enhanced release of inflammatory substances compared to unexposed cells. These cellular changes persisted for at least a week after the radiation exposure ended, suggesting the effects may trigger lasting biological responses.
Why This Matters
This study reveals concerning evidence that radiofrequency radiation can trigger persistent changes in immune cells at power levels comparable to cell phone emissions. The 8.1 mW/cm² exposure used here falls within the range of what you might experience during a phone call held close to your head. What makes these findings particularly significant is that the cellular changes persisted for at least seven days after exposure ended, suggesting that brief RF exposures may have lasting biological consequences. The enhanced release of inflammatory substances from mast cells is especially noteworthy, as these cells play crucial roles in allergic reactions and immune responses throughout your body. While this is laboratory research on isolated cells rather than whole organisms, it adds to the growing body of evidence that RF radiation can trigger measurable biological effects at non-thermal exposure levels.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 8.1 +/- 3 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 835 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 20 minutes, three times per day for 7 days
Exposure Context
This study used 8.1 +/- 3 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 300Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 5Mx 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
The aim of this study is to investigate Effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation at 835 MHz on growth, morphology and secretory characteristics of a mast cell analogue
A mast cell line, RBL-2H3, was exposed to 835 MHz for 20 minutes, three times per day for 7 days at ...
From day 4 onwards, it was observed that the rate of DNA synthesis and cell replication increased, t...
It is hypothesized that effects of exposure to an electromagnetic field at 835 MHz may be mediated via a signal transduction pathway.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_1997_effects_of_exposure_to_954,
author = {Donnellan M and McKenzie DR and French PW},
title = {Effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation at 835 MHz on growth, morphology and secretory characteristics of a mast cell analogue},
year = {1997},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9313343/},
}