A genotoxic analysis of the hematopoietic system after mobile phone type radiation exposure in rats

Abstract

Purpose: In our earlier study we reported that 900 MHz continuous wave (CW) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure (2 W/kg specific absorption rate [SAR]) had no significant effect on the hematopoietic system of rats. In this paper we extend the scope of the previous study by testing for possible effects at: (i) different SAR levels; (ii) both 900 and 1800 MHz, and; (iii) both CW and pulse modulated (PM) RFR.

Materials and methods: Excised long bones from rats were placed in medium and RFR exposed in (i) a Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) cell or (ii) a waveguide. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical analyses were used to estimate forward power needed to produce nominal SAR levels of 2/10 and 2.5/12.4 W/kg in the bone marrow. After exposure, the lymphoblasts were extracted and assayed for proliferation rate, and genotoxicity.

Results: Our data did not indicate any significant change in these end points for any combination of CW/PM exposure at 900/1800 MHz at SAR levels of nominally 2/10 W/kg or 2.5/12.4 W/kg.

Conclusions: No significant changes were observed in the hematopoietic system of rats after the exposure of CW/PM wave 900 MHz/1800 MHz RF radiations at different SAR values.

Keywords::

• Mobile phones
• radiofrequency radiation
• radiation physics
• proliferation
• hematopoietic cells
• DNA damage
• comet assay

Acknowledgements

The work performed was supported by the institutional funding from Swinburne University of Technology.

Declaration of interest

R L McI is employed by a telecommunications company, and R J McK is employed by a peak telecommunications industry body. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.