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Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

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Mokarram P, Sheikhi M, Mortazavi SMJ, Saeb S4 Shokrpour N · 2017

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Cell phone radiation altered cancer-related gene patterns in rat colon cells, suggesting a potential pathway for increased cancer risk.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Iranian researchers exposed male rats to 900 MHz GSM cell phone radiation for 4 hours and examined how it affected DNA methylation patterns in colon tissue cells. They found that the cell phone radiation altered the methylation pattern of the estrogen receptor alpha gene, which is involved in colorectal cancer development. This suggests that cell phone radiation may contribute to cancer risk through epigenetic changes - modifications that don't alter DNA sequence but affect how genes are expressed.

Why This Matters

This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how cell phone radiation affects cellular function at the molecular level. The researchers found that GSM radiation altered DNA methylation patterns in genes linked to colorectal cancer, suggesting a potential mechanism by which RF exposure could contribute to cancer development beyond direct DNA damage. What makes this particularly concerning is that these epigenetic changes can be passed on when cells divide, potentially creating lasting effects from relatively brief exposures. The study used 900 MHz GSM radiation, which is within the frequency range of standard cell phone communications that billions of people are exposed to daily. While this was an animal study with limitations, it demonstrates that cell phone radiation can cause measurable biological changes at the genetic level - changes that could theoretically increase cancer risk over time.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

This study aimed to investigate whether epigenetic pattern of ERα is susceptible to RF radiation and if RF radiation can induce radioadaptive response as epigenetic changes after receiving the challenge dose (γ-ray).

40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 equal groups (Group I: exposure to RF radiation of a...

Our finding showed that exposure to GSM cell phone RF radiation was capable of altering the pattern ...

It can be concluded that exposure to RF radiation emitted by GSM mobile phones can lead to epigenetic detrimental changes in ERα promoter methylation pattern.

Cite This Study
Mokarram P, Sheikhi M, Mortazavi SMJ, Saeb S4 Shokrpour N (2017). Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats. J Biomed Phys Eng. 7(1):79-86, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{p_2017_effect_of_exposure_to_2409,
  author = {Mokarram P and Sheikhi M and Mortazavi SMJ and Saeb S4 Shokrpour N},
  title = {Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats.},
  year = {2017},
  
  url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5401136/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2017 study found that 4-hour exposure to 900 MHz GSM cell phone radiation altered the methylation pattern of estrogen receptor alpha genes in male rat colon cells. This epigenetic change affects how genes are expressed without changing the DNA sequence itself, potentially influencing colorectal cancer development pathways.
Iranian researchers demonstrated that just 4 hours of 900 MHz GSM radiation exposure caused detrimental epigenetic changes in estrogen receptor gene methylation patterns. These modifications don't alter DNA sequence but change how genes function, suggesting relatively brief exposures may trigger cellular changes linked to cancer risk.
ERα gene methylation controls estrogen receptor alpha expression, which influences colorectal cancer development. The 2017 study showed 900 MHz GSM radiation disrupted normal methylation patterns in colon cells, potentially altering cellular responses to hormones and increasing cancer susceptibility through epigenetic mechanisms rather than direct DNA damage.
No, the study found that 900 MHz GSM radiation exposure did not induce adaptive responses that would protect cells against subsequent gamma ray damage. This suggests cell phone radiation may actually compromise cellular defense mechanisms rather than strengthening them, potentially leaving cells more vulnerable to other harmful exposures.
The research specifically examined male rat colon cells and found significant alterations in estrogen receptor gene methylation after 900 MHz GSM exposure. Since estrogen receptors play important roles in colorectal cancer development, this suggests male digestive tract tissues may be particularly susceptible to epigenetic changes from cell phone radiation.