Detection of low level microwave radiation induced deoxyribonucleic acid damage vis-à-vis genotoxicity in brain of fischer rats

• Published in: Toxicology international 2013-01, Vol.20 (1), p.19-24
• Main Authors: Deshmukh, Pravin, Megha, Kanu, Banerjee, Basu, Ahmed, Rafat, Chandna, Sudhir, Abegaonkar, Mahesh, Tripathi, Ashok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bioassays; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Genotoxicity; Microwave radiation; Microwaves; Nuclear radiation; Original; Proteins; Radiation; Rodents
• ISSN: 0971-6580; 0976-5131
• DOI: 10.4103/0971-6580.111549

Background: Non-ionizing radiofrequency radiation has been increasingly used in industry, commerce, medicine and especially in mobile phone technology and has become a matter of serious concern in present time. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the possible deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damaging effects of low-level microwave radiation in brain of Fischer rats. Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed on male Fischer rats exposed to microwave radiation for 30 days at three different frequencies: 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz. Animals were divided into 4 groups: Group I (Sham exposed): Animals not exposed to microwave radiation but kept under same conditions as that of other groups, Group II: Animals exposed to microwave radiation at frequency 900 MHz at specific absorption rate (SAR) 5.953 × 10-4 W/kg, Group III: Animals exposed to 1800 MHz at SAR 5.835 × 10-4 W/kg and Group IV: Animals exposed to 2450 MHz at SAR 6.672 × 10-4 W/kg. At the end of the exposure period animals were sacrificed immediately and DNA damage in brain tissue was assessed using alkaline comet assay. Results: In the present study, we demonstrated DNA damaging effects of low level microwave radiation in brain. Conclusion: We concluded that low SAR microwave radiation exposure at these frequencies may induce DNA strand breaks in brain tissue.