Genotoxicity and genomic instability in rat primary astrocytes exposed to 872 MHz RF and chemicals

Abstract

Genotoxicity and genomic instability in rat primary astrocytes exposed to 872 MHz RF and chemicals Herrala M, Mustafa E, Naarala J, Juutilainen J. Assessment of genotoxicity and genomic instability in rat primary astrocytes exposed to 872 MHz radiofrequency radiation and chemicals. Int J Radiat Biol. 2018 Oct;94(10):883- 889. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1450534. Abstract PURPOSE: We examined genotoxicity, co-genotoxicity and induced genomic instability (IGI) in primary astrocytes exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat primary astrocytes were exposed to 872MHz GSM-modulated or continuous wave (CW) RF radiation at specific absorption rates of 0.6 or 6.0 W/kg for 24h. Menadione (MQ) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; only in genotoxicity experiments) were used as co-exposures. Alkaline Comet assay and flow cytometric micronucleus scoring were used to detect genetic damage. RESULTS: No IGI was observed from RF radiation alone or combined treatment with MQ. RF radiation alone was not genotoxic. RF radiation combined with chemical exposure showed some statistically significant differences: increased DNA damage at 6.0 W/kg but decreased DNA damage at 0.6 W/kg in cells exposed to GSM-modulated RF radiation and MQ, and increased micronucleus frequency in cells exposed to CW RF radiation at 0.6 W/kg and MMS. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to GSM modulated RF radiation at levels up to 6.0 W/kg did not induce or enhance genomic instability in rat primary astrocytes. Lack of genotoxicity from RF radiation alone was convincingly shown in multiple experiments. Co-genotoxicity of RF radiation and genotoxic chemicals was not consistently supported by the results.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Rat primary astrocytes exposed to 872 MHz GSM-modulated or continuous-wave RF at SARs of 0.6 or 6.0 W/kg for 24 h showed no induced genomic instability (IGI) from RF alone or with menadione. RF alone was not genotoxic, while some statistically significant differences were reported with chemical co-exposures (e.g., increased DNA damage at 6.0 W/kg but decreased at 0.6 W/kg with GSM+menadione; increased micronucleus frequency with CW 0.6 W/kg + MMS).

Outcomes measured

• Genotoxicity
• Co-genotoxicity
• Induced genomic instability (IGI)
• DNA damage (alkaline Comet assay)
• Micronucleus frequency (flow cytometric micronucleus scoring)

Limitations

• In vitro study in rat primary astrocytes (not human/whole-organism outcomes)
• Co-exposure findings were not consistently supported by the results (as stated by authors)
• Sample size not reported in abstract

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 872,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "24 h"
    },
    "population": "Rat primary astrocytes",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Genotoxicity",
        "Co-genotoxicity",
        "Induced genomic instability (IGI)",
        "DNA damage (alkaline Comet assay)",
        "Micronucleus frequency (flow cytometric micronucleus scoring)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rat primary astrocytes exposed to 872 MHz GSM-modulated or continuous-wave RF at SARs of 0.6 or 6.0 W/kg for 24 h showed no induced genomic instability (IGI) from RF alone or with menadione. RF alone was not genotoxic, while some statistically significant differences were reported with chemical co-exposures (e.g., increased DNA damage at 6.0 W/kg but decreased at 0.6 W/kg with GSM+menadione; increased micronucleus frequency with CW 0.6 W/kg + MMS).",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro study in rat primary astrocytes (not human/whole-organism outcomes)",
        "Co-exposure findings were not consistently supported by the results (as stated by authors)",
        "Sample size not reported in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "872 MHz",
        "GSM-modulated",
        "continuous wave",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "SAR",
        "astrocytes",
        "genotoxicity",
        "genomic instability",
        "induced genomic instability",
        "Comet assay",
        "micronucleus",
        "menadione",
        "methyl methanesulfonate"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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