ID Number		833
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		1800, 2450 and 7700 MHz (CW) exposure to a) human lymphocytes and analysis of micronuclei and b) Chinese hamster V-79 cells and spindle assembly, mitotic cells and viability.
Details		Human lymphocytes from healthy donors were exposed at room temperature (20-22 C) to 1800 MHz, 2450 MHz or 7.7 GHz (CW) at power densities between 5 and 30 mW/cm2 (no SAR values given) for times between 15 and 180 minutes. Lymphocyte cultures were then incubated for 72 hr at 37 C and scored for micronuclei. Exposure at all frequencies caused significant increases in micronuclei formation, but did not cause cytotoxicity or cell cycle delay / change in proliferation rate. The authors acknowledge a high degree of variability between donor samples, and no consistent dose response with increasing field strength. AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Ballardin et al. 2011 (IEEE #6228): The production of mitotic spindle disturbances and activation of the apoptosis pathway in V79 Chinese hamster cells by continuous 2.45 GHz microwaves exposure were studied, in order to investigate possible non-thermal cell damage. We demonstrated that microwave (MW) exposure at the water resonance frequency was able to induce alteration of the mitotic apparatus and apoptosis as a function of the applied power densities (5 and 10mW/cm(2)), together with a moderate reduction in the rate of cell division. After an exposure time of 15 min the proportion of aberrant spindles and of apoptotic cells was significantly increased, while the mitotic index decreased as well, as compared to the untreated V79 cells. Additionally, in order to understand if the observed effects were due to RF exposure per se or to a thermal effect, V79 cells were also treated in thermostatic bath mimicking the same temperature increase recorded during microwave emission. The effect of temperature on the correct assembly of mitotic spindles was negligible up to 41°C, while apoptosis was induced only when the medium temperature achieved 40°C, thus exceeding the maximum value registered during MW exposure. We hypothesise that short-time MW exposures at the water resonance frequency cause, in V79 cells, reversible alterations of the mitotic spindle, this representing, in turn, a pro-apoptotic signal for the cell line.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Univ. of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Funding Agency		Agency Tech, Energy, Environ, Italy
Country		ITALY
References		Zotti-Martelli, L et al. Mutation Research, (2005) 582:42-52 Zotti-Martelli, L et al. Mutat Res, (2000) 472:51-58 Ballardin, M et al. Mutat Res., (2011) 716:1-9
Comments		The 7.7 GHz work is stated as confirmation of effects reported by Garaj-Vrhovac et al. (Mutation Research, 1992, 281:181-186)