Mutagenic and morphologic impacts of 1.8GHz radiofrequency radiation on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (hPBLs) and possible protective role of pre-treatment with Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761)
Esmekaya MA, Aytekin E, Ozgur E, Güler G, Ergun MA, Omeroğlu S, Seyhan N. · 2011
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation at 0.21 W/kg caused genetic damage to human immune cells, well below current safety limits.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human immune cells to 1.8GHz cell phone radiation for up to 48 hours and found significant DNA damage and cellular destruction that worsened over time. Ginkgo biloba extract provided some protection, suggesting certain antioxidants might help reduce radiation-induced genetic damage in immune cells.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that cell phone radiation can cause genetic damage to human immune cells at exposure levels well within current safety limits. The SAR of 0.21 W/kg used here is significantly lower than the 2.0 W/kg limit allowed for phones in the US, yet still produced measurable chromosomal damage and cellular destruction. What makes this research particularly valuable is the detailed electron microscopy showing progressive cellular deterioration over time - from mitochondrial damage at 8 hours to complete membrane breakdown at 48 hours. The finding that Ginkgo biloba offered some protection suggests oxidative stress plays a role in RF-induced genetic damage. While we can't directly extrapolate from laboratory cell cultures to living humans, this adds to a growing body of evidence that our current exposure standards may not adequately protect against biological effects, particularly for the immune system cells that circulate throughout our bodies.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.21 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1.8GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 6, 8, 24 and 48h
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The mutagenic and morphologic effects of 1.8GHz Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) modulated RF (radiofrequency) radiation alone and in combination with Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) pre-treatment in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (hPBLs) were investigated in this study using Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) and electron microscopy.
Cell viability was assessed with 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT...
We observed morphological changes in pulse-modulated RF radiated lymphocytes. Longer exposure period...
We concluded that RF radiation induces chromosomal damage in hPBLs but this damage may be reduced by EGb 761 pre-treatment.
Show BibTeX
@article{ma_2011_mutagenic_and_morphologic_impacts_1063,
author = {Esmekaya MA and Aytekin E and Ozgur E and Güler G and Ergun MA and Omeroğlu S and Seyhan N.},
title = {Mutagenic and morphologic impacts of 1.8GHz radiofrequency radiation on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (hPBLs) and possible protective role of pre-treatment with Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761)},
year = {2011},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22014767/},
}