Exposure to hexavalent chromium and 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation can synergistically induce intracellular DNA damage in mouse embryonic fibroblasts
Zhu Y, Zhu L, Lan Y, Sun C, Chen G · 2026
Co-exposure to 1800 MHz RF-EMF and hexavalent chromium produced a significant synergistic increase in DNA damage in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, while RF-EMF alone did not cause detectable damage.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mouse embryonic fibroblasts to 1800 MHz RF-EMF alone or combined with hydrogen peroxide, 4NQO, cadmium, or hexavalent chromium. RF-EMF alone did not cause detectable DNA damage and did not significantly increase damage from hydrogen peroxide, 4NQO, or cadmium. Combined exposure to RF-EMF and hexavalent chromium produced a significant synergistic increase in DNA damage.
Why This Matters
The RF-EMF exposure was delivered using a waveguide system under standardized, non-thermal conditions and DNA damage was measured with the alkaline comet assay. The authors suggest that RF-EMF may selectively worsen hexavalent chromium genotoxicity and call for further study of the co-toxic mechanisms.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{zhu_y_zhu_l_lan_y_sun_c_chen_g_ce4730,
author = {Zhu Y and Zhu L and Lan Y and Sun C and Chen G},
title = {Exposure to hexavalent chromium and 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation can synergistically induce intracellular DNA damage in mouse embryonic fibroblasts},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2026.153360},
}