Radiofrequency Radiation from Mobile Phone Base Stations Damages Human Blood Lymphocytes

by | Oct 28, 2019 | 2017, Environmental Health

Written by Joyce Smith, BS. Those who lived closer to mobile phone base stations had significantly higher levels of cellular oxidative stress and free radical production as witnessed by decreased concentrations of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and increased lipid peroxidation.

Studies have shown a potential link between radio frequency (RF) radiation exposure and cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological disease 1,2. Based on the increased risk for glioma, a malignant brain cancer associated with wireless phone use 3, the International Agency for Research on Cancer 4 classified RFR as a possible carcinogen. In addition, while some studies have implicated that RFR emitted from mobile base stations increase DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes of mobile phone users and those living near mobile base stations, 5,6 other studies have found no significant effect. Nausea, loss of appetite, visual disturbance, irritability and depression were reported to be significantly higher in one population living close (within 100 m) to mobile phone base stations compared to those living further away 7. Another study reported fatigue, headache, dizziness and muscle pain among its participants 8. The excessive production of free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) is often increased during cellular stress, and can increase cancer risk when conditions become chronic 9. Cellular stress can affect changes in levels of the antioxidants glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) 10. Lipid peroxidation (LOO), is a free-radical oxidation product of polyunsaturated fatty acids that also signal cellular stress and free radical production 11.

The dramatic increases in mobile phone use and base stations prompted Zothansiama et al 12  to  evaluate the effect of RFR on DNA damage and antioxidant status in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs) of individuals (n=40) living near mobile phone base stations and to compare them to heathy controls. The two groups were matched for demographic data such as age, gender dietary pattern, smoking, alcohol consumption and average daily mobile phone use as well as total duration of time use.

Power density measurements were carried out three times (morning, midday and evening), and the average was calculated for each residence residing around each base station to determine any difference in power density between selected households that were closer (within 80 m radius) and more distant (>300 m radius) from the mobile phone base stations and to ensure that RFR emission from each site did not exceed the safe public limits. The  safety limits for public exposure from mobile phone base stations are 0.45 W/m2 for 900 MHz and 0.92 W/m2 for 1800 MHz frequency according to the Government of India, New Delhi guidelines (DoT, 2012).

Bedroom measurements taken by researchers found that the RF power density of the bedrooms of the exposed group, whose 23 homes were closer to the cell towers, was significantly higher in comparison to the control group (P<0.0001). The highest power density was recorded at a distance of 1-20 m. and a highly significant negative correlation existed between the distance from the base station and the power density (p.0001). When HPBLs of all participants were cultured and DNA damage assessed by cytokinesis blocked micronucleus (MN) assay, the exposed group had a significantly higher frequency of micronuclei compared to the control group (P<0.0001). The MN frequency and LOO were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) for MN and LOO and the antioxidant levels were significantly lower (p < 0.01 for GSH; p < 0.001 for CAT and SOD) for the exposed group compared to that of the control group. When the researchers did multiple linear regression analysis they found that as the RF power density increased, a significant association became evident between diminished GSH concentration (p < 0.05), CAT (p < 0.001) and SOD (p < 0.001) activities and elevated MN frequency (p < 0.001) and LOO (p < 0.001). The authors suggest that the persistent unrepaired DNA damage through continued mobile phone use and proximity to mobile base stations may potentially cause sufficient DNA damage to lead to several health disorders including cancer.

Source: Zothansiama, Mary Zosangzuali, Miriam Lalramdinpuii, and Ganesh Chandra Jagetia. “Impact of radiofrequency radiation on DNA damage and antioxidants in peripheral blood lymphocytes of humans residing in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations.” Electromagnetic biology and medicine 36, no. 3 (2017): 295-305.

© 2017 Taylor & Francis

Posted October 28, 2019.

Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from  the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.

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