2100 MHz mobile phone radiation damages DNA in onion roots

Abstract

2100 MHz mobile phone radiation damages DNA in onion roots Chandel S, Kaur S, Issa M, Singh HP, Batish DR, Kohli RK. Appraisal of immediate and late effects of mobile phone radiations at 2100 MHz on mitotic activity and DNA integrity in root meristems of Allium cepa. Protoplasma. 2019 May 21. doi: 10.1007/s00709-019-01386-y. Abstract The present study evaluated the potential of 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiations to act as cytotoxic and genotoxic agent. Fresh onion (Allium cepa L.) roots were exposed to electromagnetic field radiations (EMF-r) for different durations (1 h and 4 h) and evaluated for mitotic index (MI), phase index, chromosomal aberrations, and DNA damage. DNA damage was investigated with the help of the comet assay by assessing various parameters like % head DNA (HDNA), % tail DNA (TDNA), tail moment (TM), and olive tail moment (OTM). Effects of EMF-r exposure were also compared with that of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; 90 μM), which acted as a positive control. The post-exposure effects of EMF-r after providing the test plants with an acclimatization period of 24 h were also evaluated. Compared to the control, a significant increase in the MI and aberration percentage was recorded upon 4 h of exposure. However, no specific trend of phase index in response to exposure was detected. EMF-r exposure incited DNA damage with a significant decrease in HDNA accompanied by an increase in TDNA upon exposure of 4 h. However, TM and OTM did not change significantly upon exposure as compared to that of control. Analysis of the post-exposure effects of EMF-r did not show any significant change/recovery. Our data, thus, suggest the potential cytotoxic and genotoxic nature of 2100 MHz EMF-r. Our study bears great significance in view of the swiftly emergent EMF-r in the surrounding environment and their potential for inciting aberrations at the chromosomal level, thus posing a genetic hazard. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusions It is apparent from the present study that radiofrequency radiations at 2100 MHz have a potential for inciting cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in A. cepa root meristems. The observed biological effects were dependent on the duration of exposure, and the maximum alterations were found upon 4 h of exposure. As the concentration of EMF waves by man-made devices like mobile phones is increasing in the environment at a very fast rate, we cannot afford to ignore the biological effects of these radiations. Our study holds great significance in view of this rapidly emergent EMF-r in the surrounding environment and their potential for inciting aberrations and damage at the chromosomal level, thus posing a genetic hazard. The study calls for a proper risk assessment in terms of impacts on the environment and public health of the increasing electromagnetic smog and development of strategies to reduce EMF-r pollution in the natural environment.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with control, 4 h exposure was associated with a significant increase in mitotic index and chromosomal aberration percentage. DNA damage indicators showed decreased % head DNA and increased % tail DNA after 4 h, while tail moment and olive tail moment did not change significantly; post-exposure (after 24 h acclimatization) analyses did not show significant change/recovery.

Outcomes measured

• Mitotic index (MI)
• Phase index
• Chromosomal aberrations
• DNA damage (comet assay: % head DNA, % tail DNA, tail moment, olive tail moment)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
• Exposure metric (e.g., SAR/power density) not reported in provided abstract/metadata
• Non-human plant model (Allium cepa), limiting direct human health inference

Suggested hubs

• rf-genotoxicity (0.86)
  Assesses DNA integrity and chromosomal aberrations after 2100 MHz RF exposure using comet assay and cytogenetic endpoints.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 2100,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1 h and 4 h (with post-exposure assessment after 24 h acclimatization)"
    },
    "population": "Allium cepa (onion) root meristems",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Mitotic index (MI)",
        "Phase index",
        "Chromosomal aberrations",
        "DNA damage (comet assay: % head DNA, % tail DNA, tail moment, olive tail moment)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Compared with control, 4 h exposure was associated with a significant increase in mitotic index and chromosomal aberration percentage. DNA damage indicators showed decreased % head DNA and increased % tail DNA after 4 h, while tail moment and olive tail moment did not change significantly; post-exposure (after 24 h acclimatization) analyses did not show significant change/recovery.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Exposure metric (e.g., SAR/power density) not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Non-human plant model (Allium cepa), limiting direct human health inference"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "2100 MHz",
        "radiofrequency",
        "mobile phone radiation",
        "EMF-r",
        "Allium cepa",
        "onion roots",
        "genotoxicity",
        "cytotoxicity",
        "chromosomal aberrations",
        "comet assay"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "rf-genotoxicity",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Assesses DNA integrity and chromosomal aberrations after 2100 MHz RF exposure using comet assay and cytogenetic endpoints."
        }
    ]
}

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