Effects of 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on bacterial and HPRT gene mutations

• Published in: Journal of radiation research 2007-01, Vol.48 (1), p.69-75
• Main Authors: Koyama, Shin, Takashima, Yoshio, Sakurai, Tomonori, Suzuki, Yukihisa, Taki, Masao, Miyakoshi, Junji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ames test; Analysis; Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial genetics; Bleomycin; Cell Phone; Cellular telephones; CHO Cells; Colonies; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; DNA Damage; DNA, Bacterial - radiation effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Electromagnetic Fields; Environmental Exposure; Gene mutation; Genes; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Heat; Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase - genetics; Microwaves; Mutation - radiation effects; Radiation Dosage; Revertants; Statistical analysis; Temperature effects; Wireless telephones
• ISSN: 0449-3060; 1349-9157; 1349-9157
• DOI: 10.1269/jrr.06085

Present day use of mobile phones is ubiquitous. This causes some concern for human health due to exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (HFEMF) from mobile phones. Consequently, we have examined the effects of 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields on bacterial mutations and the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene mutations. Using the Ames test, bacteria were exposed to HFEMF for 30 min at specific absorption rates (SARs) from 5 to 200 W/kg. In all strains, there was no significant difference in the frequency of revertant colonies between sham exposure and HFEMF-exposed groups. In examination of mutations of the HPRT gene, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells were exposed to HFEMF for 2 h at SARs from 5 to 200 W/kg. We detected a combination effect of simultaneous exposure to HFEMF and bleomycin at the respective SARs. A statistically significant difference was observed between the cells exposed to HFEMF at the SAR of 200 W/kg. Cells treated with the combination of HFEMF at SARs from 50 to 200 W/kg and bleomycin exhibited increased HPRT mutations. As the exposure to HFEMF induced an increase in temperature, these increases of mutation frequency may be a result of activation of bleomycin by heat. We consider that the increase of mutation frequency may be due to a thermal effect.