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DNA & Genetic Damage

Ultra-wide band electromagnetic radiation does not affect UV-induced recombination and mutagenesis in yeast.

No Effects Found

Pakhomova ON, Belt ML, Mathur SP, Lee JC, Akyel Y · 1998

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Even extremely high-intensity electromagnetic pulses showed no interference with DNA repair in yeast cells, suggesting minimal genetic risk from typical EMF exposures.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed yeast cells to extremely high-intensity electromagnetic pulses (up to 104,000 volts per meter) after damaging them with UV radiation to see if the EMF exposure would worsen genetic damage. The ultra-wide band pulses, delivered at repetition rates of 16 Hz or 600 Hz for 30 minutes, showed no effect on DNA repair, mutation rates, or cell survival. This suggests that even very intense pulsed electromagnetic fields may not interfere with cellular DNA repair mechanisms.

Why This Matters

This study is notable because it tested EMF exposure levels far beyond what you encounter in daily life - we're talking about electric field strengths of 101,000 to 104,000 volts per meter, which is orders of magnitude higher than typical environmental exposures. The researchers deliberately stressed the yeast cells with UV radiation first, creating a scenario where any EMF interference with DNA repair would be most likely to show up. The fact that even these extreme exposures showed no effect on genetic processes provides some reassurance about EMF interactions with cellular repair mechanisms. However, it's important to note this was a single study using yeast cells, and the ultra-wide band pulses tested here differ significantly from the continuous radiofrequency emissions from wireless devices that concern most people today.

Exposure Details

Electric Field
101000 - 104000 V/m
Source/Device
0 Hz (sham), 16 Hz, or 600 Hz
Exposure Duration
30 min

Exposure Context

This study used 101000 - 104000 V/m for electric fields:

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.

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 0 Hz - 600 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 0 Hz - 600 HzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate Ultra-wide band electromagnetic radiation does not affect UV-induced recombination and mutagenesis in yeast

Cell samples of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were exposed to 100 J/m2 of 254 nm ultraviolet (U...

The effect of exposures was evaluated from the colony-forming ability of the cells on complete and s...

The experiments established no effect of UWB exposure on the UV-induced reciprocal and non-reciprocal recombination, mutagenesis, or cell survival.

Cite This Study
Pakhomova ON, Belt ML, Mathur SP, Lee JC, Akyel Y (1998). Ultra-wide band electromagnetic radiation does not affect UV-induced recombination and mutagenesis in yeast. Bioelectromagnetics 19(2):128-130, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{on_1998_ultrawide_band_electromagnetic_radiation_3288,
  author = {Pakhomova ON and Belt ML and Mathur SP and Lee JC and Akyel Y},
  title = {Ultra-wide band electromagnetic radiation does not affect UV-induced recombination and mutagenesis in yeast.},
  year = {1998},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9492171/},
}
PubMed: 9492171

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 1998 study found that extremely high-intensity electromagnetic pulses (up to 104,000 volts per meter) did not worsen DNA damage or interfere with cellular repair mechanisms in yeast cells, even after UV radiation exposure.
Research using ultra-wide band electromagnetic pulses at 16 Hz and 600 Hz frequencies showed no impact on cell survival rates in yeast, even when cells were previously damaged with UV radiation.
A laboratory study exposing yeast to intense pulsed EMF at 600 Hz found no increase in mutation rates or genetic damage, suggesting high-frequency pulses may not harm genetic material.
Scientists found that ultra-wide band electromagnetic pulses did not interfere with natural DNA repair processes in yeast cells, even at extremely high intensities of 104,000 volts per meter.
A 1998 study found no increased mutation risk from pulsed electromagnetic fields in yeast cells, with researchers observing no changes in genetic recombination or aberrant colony formation after exposure.