No significant cytogenetic effects in cultured human lymphocytes exposed to cell phones radiofrequencies (900mhz and 1800mhz)‎

Abstract EN

The aim of this study is to examine whether radiofrequency (RF) used in cellular phone communications at a specific absorption rate (SAR) less than 1.2 w / kg could increase the spontaneous rate of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) or elicit alterations both in the cell replication index (CRI) and mitotic index (MI) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Whole blood samples were obtained from twenty six healthy donors (male nonsmokers).

Cultures were placed in sterile T-25 tissue flasks and sham-exposed or RF-exposed to 900 MHz or 1800 MHz radiation for 1 h, then incubated for 72 h at 37 °C.

The mean SCE values of both RF exposure groups slightly increased, as compared with the sham-exposure group.

However, there was no significant difference between the RF exposure groups and sham-RF exposure group.

Compared with the negative control, both CRI and MI were non-significantly elevated after exposure to both frequencies, but to a lesser extent in case of 1800 MHz exposure.

In view of the present guidelines of mutagenicity, which necessitates at least two-fold increase in SCE rate, RF is not considered as mutagenic.