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Proflavin and microwave radiation: absence of a mutagenic interaction.

No Effects Found

Meltz ML, Eagan P, Erwin DN · 1990

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Even at extremely high microwave radiation levels (25 times cell phone limits), no enhancement of chemical DNA damage was observed.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mouse leukemic cells to 2.45-GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as microwave ovens) at high power levels while simultaneously treating them with proflavin, a DNA-damaging drug. They found no evidence that the microwave radiation enhanced the drug's ability to cause genetic mutations, nor did the radiation alone cause any DNA damage. This suggests that microwave radiation at these levels does not interact with chemical mutagens to worsen genetic damage.

Study Details

To investigate whether simultaneous exposure of mouse leukemic cells to radiofrequency radiation at moderate power levels can affect the extent of mutagenesis caused by proflavine (a drug known to intercalate with DNA).

We have performed experiments to determine whether there is an interaction between 2.45-GHz, pulsed-...

In no case was there any indication of a statistically significant increase in the induced mutant f...

Cite This Study
Meltz ML, Eagan P, Erwin DN (1990). Proflavin and microwave radiation: absence of a mutagenic interaction. Bioelectromagnetics 11(2):149-157, 1990.
Show BibTeX
@article{ml_1990_proflavin_and_microwave_radiation_3242,
  author = {Meltz ML and Eagan P and Erwin DN},
  title = {Proflavin and microwave radiation: absence of a mutagenic interaction.},
  year = {1990},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2242050/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed mouse leukemic cells to 2.45-GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as microwave ovens) at high power levels while simultaneously treating them with proflavin, a DNA-damaging drug. They found no evidence that the microwave radiation enhanced the drug's ability to cause genetic mutations, nor did the radiation alone cause any DNA damage. This suggests that microwave radiation at these levels does not interact with chemical mutagens to worsen genetic damage.