Human-made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced-oscillation and voltage-gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review)

PAPER manual 2021 Review Effect: harm Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5272 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Human-made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced-oscillation and voltage-gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review) Dimitris J Panagopoulos, Andreas Karabarbounis, Igor Yakymenko, George P Chrousos. Human-made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced-oscillation and voltage-gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review). Int J Oncol. 2021 Nov;59(5):92. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5272. Abstract Exposure of animals/biological samples to human-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band, and the microwave/radio frequency (RF) band which is always combined with ELF, may lead to DNA damage. DNA damage is connected with cell death, infertility and other pathologies, including cancer. ELF exposure from high-voltage power lines and complex RF exposure from wireless communication antennas/devices are linked to increased cancer risk. Almost all human-made RF EMFs include ELF components in the form of modulation, pulsing and random variability. Thus, in addition to polarization and coherence, the existence of ELFs is a common feature of almost all human-made EMFs. The present study reviews the DNA damage and related effects induced by human-made EMFs. The ion forced-oscillation mechanism for irregular gating of voltage-gated ion channels on cell membranes by polarized/coherent EMFs is extensively described. Dysfunction of ion channels disrupts intracellular ionic concentrations, which determine the cell's electrochemical balance and homeostasis. The present study shows how this can result in DNA damage through reactive oxygen species/free radical overproduction. Thus, a complete picture is provided of how human-made EMF exposure may indeed lead to DNA damage and related pathologies, including cancer. Moreover, it is suggested that the non-thermal biological effects attributed to RF EMFs are actually due to their ELF components. Open access paper: spandidos-publications.com

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

harm

Population

animals/biological samples (general)

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF; RF/microwave high-voltage power lines; wireless communication antennas/devices

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

The review states that exposure of animals/biological samples to human-made EMFs, especially ELF and RF/microwave (often combined with ELF components via modulation/pulsing/variability), may lead to DNA damage. It describes an ion forced-oscillation mechanism leading to irregular gating of voltage-gated ion channels, disruption of ionic homeostasis, and subsequent ROS/free radical overproduction that can result in DNA damage; it also suggests ELF components may underlie non-thermal RF biological effects.

Outcomes measured

DNA damage
oxidative stress / reactive oxygen species (ROS) / free radical overproduction
voltage-gated ion channel dysfunction / irregular gating
cell death
infertility
cancer risk

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.35)
Mentions ELF exposure from high-voltage power lines (a common occupational/environmental exposure context).

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF; RF/microwave",
        "source": "high-voltage power lines; wireless communication antennas/devices",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "animals/biological samples (general)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "DNA damage",
        "oxidative stress / reactive oxygen species (ROS) / free radical overproduction",
        "voltage-gated ion channel dysfunction / irregular gating",
        "cell death",
        "infertility",
        "cancer risk"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The review states that exposure of animals/biological samples to human-made EMFs, especially ELF and RF/microwave (often combined with ELF components via modulation/pulsing/variability), may lead to DNA damage. It describes an ion forced-oscillation mechanism leading to irregular gating of voltage-gated ion channels, disruption of ionic homeostasis, and subsequent ROS/free radical overproduction that can result in DNA damage; it also suggests ELF components may underlie non-thermal RF biological effects.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF",
        "radiofrequency",
        "microwave",
        "DNA damage",
        "oxidative stress",
        "reactive oxygen species",
        "voltage-gated ion channels",
        "ion forced-oscillation",
        "non-thermal effects",
        "cancer risk",
        "power lines",
        "wireless communication"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Mentions ELF exposure from high-voltage power lines (a common occupational/environmental exposure context)."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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