Evaluation of Genotoxicity of Cell Phone Radiation in Male and Female Rats and Mice Following Subchronic Exposure

Abstract

Evaluation of Genotoxicity of Cell Phone Radiation in Male and Female Rats and Mice Following Subchronic Exposure Smith-Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW, Hobbs CA, Shepard KG, Green AS, Kissling GE, Tice RR, Bucher JR, Witt KL. Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. 49th Annual Meeting of the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society. San Antonio, Texas, Sep 22-26, 2018. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; 59 (Suppl. 1): 85- 85. Meeting abstract: P9. Sep 2018. National Toxicology Program/NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, and Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC. Abstract The National Toxicology Program tested the two common radiofrequency radiation (RFR) modulations emitted by cellular telephones in a 2-year rodent cancer bioassay that included additional animal cohorts for interim assessments of genotoxicity endpoints. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice were exposed from gestation day 5 or postnatal day 35, respectively, to code division multiple access (CDMA) or global system for mobile (GSM) modulations semi- continuously for 18 h/day in 10 min intervals in reverberation chambers at specific absorption rates (SAR) of 1.5, 3, or 6 W/kg (rats) or 2.5, 5, or 10 W/kg (mice). Rats and mice were exposed at 900 MHz or 1900 MHz, respectively. The interim cohorts, 5 animals per treatment group, were examined after 19 (rats) or 13 (mice) weeks of exposure for evidence of RFR-induced genotoxicity. DNA damage was assessed in three brain regions (frontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum), and in liver cells and blood leukocytes using the comet assay. Chromosomal damage was assessed in peripheral blood erythrocytes using the micronucleus assay. DNA damage was significantly increased in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), peripheral leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). DNA damage was nominally elevated in several other tissues of RFR-exposed rats, although statistical significance was not achieved. No significant increases in micronucleated red blood cells were observed in rats or mice. These results suggest that exposure to RFR has the potential to induce measurable DNA damage under certain exposure conditions. onlinelibrary.wiley.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

DNA damage was significantly increased in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), peripheral leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). No significant increases in micronucleated red blood cells were observed in rats or mice.

Outcomes measured

• DNA damage (comet assay) in brain regions (frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum), liver cells, blood leukocytes
• Chromosomal damage (micronucleus assay) in peripheral blood erythrocytes

Limitations

• Meeting abstract; limited methodological detail provided
• Interim genotoxicity cohorts described as 5 animals per treatment group; total sample size not stated
• Statistical significance not achieved for several nominally elevated tissues; details not provided

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Subchronic exposure: 18 h/day in 10 min intervals; interim assessment after 19 weeks (rats) or 13 weeks (mice); exposures began gestation day 5 (rats) or postnatal day 35 (mice)"
    },
    "population": "Male and female Sprague Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "DNA damage (comet assay) in brain regions (frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum), liver cells, blood leukocytes",
        "Chromosomal damage (micronucleus assay) in peripheral blood erythrocytes"
    ],
    "main_findings": "DNA damage was significantly increased in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), peripheral leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). No significant increases in micronucleated red blood cells were observed in rats or mice.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Meeting abstract; limited methodological detail provided",
        "Interim genotoxicity cohorts described as 5 animals per treatment group; total sample size not stated",
        "Statistical significance not achieved for several nominally elevated tissues; details not provided"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "National Toxicology Program",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "cell phone",
        "GSM",
        "CDMA",
        "rats",
        "mice",
        "Sprague Dawley",
        "B6C3F1/N",
        "900 MHz",
        "1900 MHz",
        "SAR",
        "reverberation chamber",
        "subchronic exposure",
        "comet assay",
        "micronucleus assay",
        "DNA damage",
        "genotoxicity"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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