Evaluation of hematopoietic system effects after in vitro radiofrequency radiation exposure in rats

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effect of a 900-MHz continuous-wave (CW) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure on the hematopoietic system in the rat.

Materials and methods: Rat long bones (femur and tibia) were divided into two groups: Sham-exposed and radiofrequency (RF)-exposed. The mean Specific energy Absorption Rate (SAR) at 900-MHz averaged over the bone marrow (calculated by the finite-difference-time-domain ( fdtD) method) was 2 W/kg at 16.7 W root mean square (rms) forward power into a Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) cell. The bones, placed in a Petri dish containing media, were kept in the TEM cell for 30 min duration of sham or RF exposure. After exposure, the bone marrow cells were extracted and the following end points were tested: (a) Proliferation rate of whole bone marrow cells, (b) maturation rate of erythrocytes, (c) proliferation rate of lymphocytes, and (d) DNA damage (strand breaks/alkali labile sites) of lymphocytes.

Results: Our data did not indicate any significant change in the proliferation rate of bone marrow cells and lymphocytes, erythrocyte maturation rate and DNA damage of lymphocytes.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed no effect on the hematopoietic system in rats for 900 MHz CW RF exposure at the 2 W/kg localised SAR limit value recommended by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for public exposures.

Keywords:

• RF radiation
• TEM cell
• bone marrow cells
• DNA damage

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mr Chris Anthony, Technical Officer, Biomedical Sciences laboratory, Mrs Soula Mougos and Mr Christopher Key, Technical Officer, Biotechnology laboratory, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia, for their help in conducting these experiments. The authors are also highly thankful to Dr John Javorniczky, Scientist, ARPANSA, for his contribution in measuring UV intensity.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.