Effect of 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on DNA and oxidative stress in brain

PAPER manual 2019 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2019.1567526 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Effect of 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on DNA and oxidative stress in brain Alkis ME, Bilgin HM, Akpolat V, Dasdag S, Yegin K, Yavas MC, Akdag MZ. Effect of 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on DNA and oxidative stress in brain. Electromagn Biol Med. 2019 Jan 22:1-16. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2019.1567526. Abstract Ubiquitous and ever increasing use of mobile phones led to the growing concern about the effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by cell phones on biological systems. The aim of this study is to explore whether long-term RFR exposure at different frequencies affects DNA damage and oxidant-antioxidant parameters in the blood and brain tissue of rats. 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 7). They were identified as Group 1: sham-control, Group 2: 900 MHz, Group 3: 1800 MHz, and Group 4: 2100 MHz. Experimental groups of rats were exposed to RFR 2 h/day for 6 months. The sham-control group of rats was subjected to the same experimental condition but generator was turned off. Specific absorption rates (SARs) at brain with 1 g average were calculated as 0.0845 W/kg, 0.04563 W/kg, and 0.03957, at 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz, respectively. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) analyses were conducted in the brain tissue samples. Results of the study showed that DNA damage and oxidative stress indicators were found higher in the RFR exposure groups than in the sham-control group. In conclusion, 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz RFR emitted from mobile phones may cause oxidative damage, induce increase in lipid peroxidation, and increase oxidative DNA damage formation in the frontal lobe of the rat brain tissues. Furthermore, 2100-MHz RFR may cause formation of DNA single-strand breaks. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusion RFR at different mobile phone frequencies seems to cause oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage by changing oxidant and antioxidant levels in frontal lobe of the brain tissue. However, the increase in the frequency and the increase in the level of damage suggest that RFRs at higher frequencies may negatively affect brain tissue and may lead to the development of damage. Our study is consistent with many recent studies and supports the hypothesis that RFR causes damage to biological tissues. However, in order to reach solid conclusions, detailed long-term studies at molecular level are definitely needed.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Male Sprague Dawley rats

Sample size

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 2 h/day for 6 months

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to 900, 1800, or 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation for 2 h/day for 6 months had higher DNA damage and oxidative stress indicators than sham controls. The authors conclude that these exposures may increase lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage in frontal lobe brain tissue, and that 2100 MHz exposure may cause DNA single-strand breaks.

Outcomes measured

DNA damage
oxidative stress indicators
malondialdehyde (MDA)
8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)
total antioxidant status (TAS)
total oxidant status (TOS)
lipid peroxidation
DNA single-strand breaks

Limitations

Animal study (rats), limiting direct applicability to humans
Small group sizes (n=7 per group)

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones-rf (0.9)
Study evaluates biological effects of RF frequencies used by mobile phones (900/1800/2100 MHz) with reported SARs.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "2 h/day for 6 months"
    },
    "population": "Male Sprague Dawley rats",
    "sample_size": 28,
    "outcomes": [
        "DNA damage",
        "oxidative stress indicators",
        "malondialdehyde (MDA)",
        "8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)",
        "total antioxidant status (TAS)",
        "total oxidant status (TOS)",
        "lipid peroxidation",
        "DNA single-strand breaks"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 900, 1800, or 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation for 2 h/day for 6 months had higher DNA damage and oxidative stress indicators than sham controls. The authors conclude that these exposures may increase lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage in frontal lobe brain tissue, and that 2100 MHz exposure may cause DNA single-strand breaks.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Animal study (rats), limiting direct applicability to humans",
        "Small group sizes (n=7 per group)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "mobile phone",
        "900 MHz",
        "1800 MHz",
        "2100 MHz",
        "SAR",
        "rat",
        "brain",
        "frontal lobe",
        "oxidative stress",
        "DNA damage",
        "MDA",
        "8-OHdG",
        "TAS",
        "TOS",
        "lipid peroxidation",
        "single-strand breaks"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study evaluates biological effects of RF frequencies used by mobile phones (900/1800/2100 MHz) with reported SARs."
        }
    ]
}

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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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