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Nonthermal GSM microwaves affect chromatin conformation in human lymphocytes similar to heat shock

Sarimov, R ; Malmgren, Lars LU ; Markova, E ; Persson, Bertil R LU orcid and Belyaev, IY (2004) In IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 32(4). p.1600-1608
Abstract
Here we investigated whether microwaves (MWs) of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) induce changes in chromatin conformation in human lymphocytes. Effects of MWs were studied at different frequencies in the range of 895-915 MHz in experiments with lymphocytes from seven healthy persons. Exposure was performed in transverse electromagnetic transmission line cell (TEM-cell) using a GSM test-mobile phone. All standard modulations included 2 W output power in the pulses, specific absorbed rate (SAR) being 5.4 mW/kg. Changes in chromatin conformation, which are indicative of stress response and genotoxic effects, were measured by the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencies (AVTD). Heat shock and treatment with the genotoxic... (More)
Here we investigated whether microwaves (MWs) of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) induce changes in chromatin conformation in human lymphocytes. Effects of MWs were studied at different frequencies in the range of 895-915 MHz in experiments with lymphocytes from seven healthy persons. Exposure was performed in transverse electromagnetic transmission line cell (TEM-cell) using a GSM test-mobile phone. All standard modulations included 2 W output power in the pulses, specific absorbed rate (SAR) being 5.4 mW/kg. Changes in chromatin conformation, which are indicative of stress response and genotoxic effects, were measured by the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencies (AVTD). Heat shock and treatment with the genotoxic agent camptothecin, were used as positive controls. 30-min exposure to MWs at 900 and 905 MHz resulted in statistically significant condensation of chromatin in lymphocytes from 1 of 3 tested donors. This condensation was similar to effects. of heat shock within the temperature window of 40degreesC-44degreesC. Analysis of pooled data from all donors showed statistically significant effect of 30-min exposure to MWs. Stronger effects of MWs was found following I-h exposure. In replicated experiments, cells from four out of five donors responded to 905 MHz. Responses to 915 MHz were observed in cells from I out of 5 donors, p < 0.002. Dependent on donor, condensation, 3 donors, or decondensation, 1 donor, of chromatin was found in response to I-h exposure. Analysis of pooled data from all donors showed statistically significant effect of 1-h exposure to MWs. In cells from one donor, this effect was frequency-dependent (p < 0.01). Effects of MWs correlated statistically significantly with effects of heat shock and initial state of chromatin before exposure. MWs at 895 and 915 MHz affected chromatin conformation in transformed lymphocytes. The conclusion-GSM microwaves under specific conditions of exposure affected human lymphocytes similar to stress response. The data suggested that the MW effects differ at various GSM frequencies and vary between donors. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
biological effects of electromagnetic radiation, biological cells, genetics, mobile phones
in
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
volume
32
issue
4
pages
1600 - 1608
publisher
IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000224544700011
  • scopus:7244219779
ISSN
0093-3813
DOI
10.1109/TPS.2004.832613
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
62456151-f078-4c7f-ac06-0e5de0113874 (old id 262771)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:58:48
date last changed
2022-03-22 22:29:19
@article{62456151-f078-4c7f-ac06-0e5de0113874,
  abstract     = {{Here we investigated whether microwaves (MWs) of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) induce changes in chromatin conformation in human lymphocytes. Effects of MWs were studied at different frequencies in the range of 895-915 MHz in experiments with lymphocytes from seven healthy persons. Exposure was performed in transverse electromagnetic transmission line cell (TEM-cell) using a GSM test-mobile phone. All standard modulations included 2 W output power in the pulses, specific absorbed rate (SAR) being 5.4 mW/kg. Changes in chromatin conformation, which are indicative of stress response and genotoxic effects, were measured by the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencies (AVTD). Heat shock and treatment with the genotoxic agent camptothecin, were used as positive controls. 30-min exposure to MWs at 900 and 905 MHz resulted in statistically significant condensation of chromatin in lymphocytes from 1 of 3 tested donors. This condensation was similar to effects. of heat shock within the temperature window of 40degreesC-44degreesC. Analysis of pooled data from all donors showed statistically significant effect of 30-min exposure to MWs. Stronger effects of MWs was found following I-h exposure. In replicated experiments, cells from four out of five donors responded to 905 MHz. Responses to 915 MHz were observed in cells from I out of 5 donors, p &lt; 0.002. Dependent on donor, condensation, 3 donors, or decondensation, 1 donor, of chromatin was found in response to I-h exposure. Analysis of pooled data from all donors showed statistically significant effect of 1-h exposure to MWs. In cells from one donor, this effect was frequency-dependent (p &lt; 0.01). Effects of MWs correlated statistically significantly with effects of heat shock and initial state of chromatin before exposure. MWs at 895 and 915 MHz affected chromatin conformation in transformed lymphocytes. The conclusion-GSM microwaves under specific conditions of exposure affected human lymphocytes similar to stress response. The data suggested that the MW effects differ at various GSM frequencies and vary between donors.}},
  author       = {{Sarimov, R and Malmgren, Lars and Markova, E and Persson, Bertil R and Belyaev, IY}},
  issn         = {{0093-3813}},
  keywords     = {{biological effects of electromagnetic radiation; biological cells; genetics; mobile phones}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1600--1608}},
  publisher    = {{IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.}},
  series       = {{IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science}},
  title        = {{Nonthermal GSM microwaves affect chromatin conformation in human lymphocytes similar to heat shock}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2004.832613}},
  doi          = {{10.1109/TPS.2004.832613}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}