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Oxidative Stress

Oxidative changes and apoptosis induced by 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation in NIH/3T3 cells

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Hou Q, Wang M, Wu S, Ma X, An G, Liu H, Xie F · 2015

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Exposure to 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation increased ROS levels and late-apoptotic cell percentages in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, but no significant DNA damage marker was detected.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) exposed to 1800-MHz GSM-talk mode electromagnetic radiation at an average specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg. Intracellular ROS levels increased significantly after exposure, reaching their highest level at one hour of exposure, then declining slightly with longer exposure up to eight hours. The percentage of late-apoptotic cells was significantly higher in the exposed group than in sham-exposed groups, while no significant effect on the DNA damage marker γH2AX was detected.

Why This Matters

The cells were exposed intermittently, with the signal cycling five minutes on and ten minutes off, for durations ranging from 0.5 to 8 hours. ROS were measured using a fluorescence probe, DNA damage was assessed by counting γH2AX foci, and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The researchers stated that 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation enhances ROS formation and promotes apoptosis in NIH/3T3 cells. Although ROS levels and apoptosis were elevated, the γH2AX marker for DNA damage showed no significant change after exposure.

Exposure Details

SAR
2 W/kg
Source/Device
1800 MHz
Exposure Duration
5 min on/10 min off, for various durations from 0.5 to 8 h

Exposure Context

This study used 2 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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 Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 2 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to observe the Oxidative changes and apoptosis induced by 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation in NIH/3T3 cells

To investigate the potential adverse effects of mobile phone radiation, we studied reactive oxygen s...

Our results showed a significant increase in intracellular ROS levels after EMR exposure and it reac...

These results indicate that an 1800-MHz EMR enhances ROS formation and promotes apoptosis in NIH/3T3 cells.

Cite This Study
Hou Q, Wang M, Wu S, Ma X, An G, Liu H, Xie F (2015). Oxidative changes and apoptosis induced by 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation in NIH/3T3 cells Electromagn Biol Med. 34(1):85-92, 2015.
Show BibTeX
@article{q_2015_oxidative_changes_and_apoptosis_533,
  author = {Hou Q and Wang M and Wu S and Ma X and An G and Liu H and Xie F},
  title = {Oxidative changes and apoptosis induced by 1800-MHz electromagnetic radiation in NIH/3T3 cells},
  year = {2015},
  doi = {10.3109/15368378.2014.900507},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2014.900507},
}
DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2014.900507

Cited By (47 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used mouse embryonic fibroblasts, known as NIH/3T3 cells.
ROS levels increased significantly after exposure, peaking at one hour, then declining slightly when exposure continued up to eight hours.
No significant effect on the γH2AX DNA damage marker was detected after electromagnetic radiation exposure.
The cells were exposed at an average specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg.
The percentage of late-apoptotic cells was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the sham-exposed groups.