Blocking 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation-induced reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in lens epithelial cells by noise magnetic fields.
Wu W, Yao K, Wang KJ, Lu DQ, He JL, Xu LH, Sun WJ. · 2008
View Original AbstractElectromagnetic noise fields completely blocked DNA damage from cell phone radiation in human eye cells, suggesting biological EMF effects are more complex than current safety standards assume.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation at levels four times higher than safety limits and found it caused DNA damage and increased harmful reactive oxygen species (molecules that damage cells). However, when they simultaneously exposed the cells to electromagnetic noise fields, this completely blocked the DNA damage and cellular harm from the phone radiation.
Why This Matters
This study reveals something remarkable about how electromagnetic fields interact with living cells. The research demonstrates that 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation at 4 W/kg (four times the current SAR safety limit of 1.6 W/kg in the US) causes measurable DNA damage and oxidative stress in human lens cells. But here's what makes this particularly significant: the protective effect of electromagnetic noise suggests that the biological impact of EMF isn't simply about power levels or heating effects. The fact that specific electromagnetic patterns can completely block cellular damage points to more complex biological mechanisms at work. What this means for you is that the current safety standards, which focus only on heating effects, may be missing critical aspects of how EMF affects our cells. While this research was conducted on isolated cells rather than whole organisms, it adds to the growing body of evidence that biological effects occur well below thermal thresholds and that the characteristics of EMF exposure matter as much as the intensity.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.002 mG
- SAR
- 4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1800 MHz mobile phones and noise magnetic fields
- Exposure Duration
- 24h
Exposure Context
This study used 0.002 mG for magnetic fields:
- 100x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 20x above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
This study used 4 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 10x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
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 Details
To investigate whether the exposure to the electromagnetic noise can block reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage of lens epithelial cells induced by 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation.
The DCFH-DA method and comet assay were used respectively to detect the intracellular ROS and DNA da...
1800 MHz mobile phone radiation at 4 W/kg for 24 h increased intracellular ROS and DNA damage signif...
Electromagnetic noise can block intracellular ROS production and DNA damage of human lens epithelial cells induced by 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{w_2008_blocking_1800_mhz_mobile_21,
author = {Wu W and Yao K and Wang KJ and Lu DQ and He JL and Xu LH and Sun WJ.},
title = {Blocking 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation-induced reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in lens epithelial cells by noise magnetic fields.},
year = {2008},
url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18275117},
}