EMF Research Studies

Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.

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Showing 481 studies in DNA & Genetic Damage

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DNA & Genetic Damage

The relationship between colony-forming ability, chromosome aberrations and incidence of micronuclei in V79 Chinese hamster cells exposed to microwave radiation.

Garaj-Vrhovac V, Horvat D, Koren Z · 1991

Researchers exposed hamster cells to microwave radiation at 7.7 GHz (similar to frequencies used in radar and some wireless devices) for 15, 30, and 60 minutes. They found significant damage to the cells' chromosomes, including broken and ring-shaped chromosomes that are hallmarks of genetic damage. This suggests that microwave radiation can directly damage DNA structure in living cells.

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DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Proflavin and microwave radiation: absence of a mutagenic interaction.

Meltz ML, Eagan P, Erwin DN · 1990

Researchers exposed mouse leukemic cells to 2.45-GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as microwave ovens) at high power levels while simultaneously treating them with proflavin, a DNA-damaging drug. They found no evidence that the microwave radiation enhanced the drug's ability to cause genetic mutations, nor did the radiation alone cause any DNA damage. This suggests that microwave radiation at these levels does not interact with chemical mutagens to worsen genetic damage.

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DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Influence of radiofrequency radiation on chromosome aberrations in CHO cells and its interaction with DNA-damaging agents.

Kerbacher JJ, Meltz ML, Erwin DN, · 1990

Researchers exposed Chinese hamster cells to high-intensity microwave radiation (2450 MHz) at levels far exceeding safety guidelines to see if it would damage chromosomes or make cancer drugs more harmful. Even at these extreme exposure levels-which heated the cells by over 3 degrees-the radiation caused no chromosome damage by itself and didn't increase the genetic damage from chemotherapy drugs. This suggests that radiofrequency radiation at this frequency doesn't directly break DNA or interfere with cellular repair mechanisms.

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DNA & Genetic Damage114 citations

The effect of microwave radiation on the cell genome.

Garaj-Vrhovac V, Horvat D, Koren Z, · 1990

Researchers exposed Chinese hamster cells to microwave radiation at 7.7 GHz (similar to radar frequencies) for up to one hour and found significant DNA damage. The radiation completely blocked cells from entering their normal DNA replication phase and caused chromosome abnormalities that persisted even after exposure ended. This demonstrates that microwave radiation can directly interfere with genetic processes at the cellular level.

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DNA & Genetic Damage

The effect of microwave radiation on the cell genome

Garaj-Vrhovac V, Horvat D, Koren Z · 1990

Researchers exposed hamster cells to microwave radiation at 7.7 GHz for up to one hour and found significant DNA damage. The radiation prevented cells from properly replicating their DNA and caused chromosome abnormalities. While the cells recovered their normal DNA synthesis within one generation, the structural damage to DNA molecules persisted.

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DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Effect of radiofrequency radiation on mRNA expression in cultured rodent cells.

Parker JE, Kiel JL, Winters WD · 1988

Researchers exposed four types of rodent cells to 2450 MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as microwave ovens) at very high power levels to see if it would change how genes are expressed. They found no significant differences in gene activity between exposed and unexposed cells, even when testing genes related to cancer development and cellular stress responses.

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