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Karipidis K, Mate R, Urban D, Tinker R, Wood A. 5G mobile networks and health-a state-of-the-science review of the research into low-level RF fields above 6 GHz. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:585-605. [PMID: 33727687 PMCID: PMC8263336 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00297-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The increased use of radiofrequency (RF) fields above 6 GHz, particularly for the 5 G mobile phone network, has given rise to public concern about any possible adverse effects to human health. Public exposure to RF fields from 5 G and other sources is below the human exposure limits specified by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). This state-of-the science review examined the research into the biological and health effects of RF fields above 6 GHz at exposure levels below the ICNIRP occupational limits. The review included 107 experimental studies that investigated various bioeffects including genotoxicity, cell proliferation, gene expression, cell signalling, membrane function and other effects. Reported bioeffects were generally not independently replicated and the majority of the studies employed low quality methods of exposure assessment and control. Effects due to heating from high RF energy deposition cannot be excluded from many of the results. The review also included 31 epidemiological studies that investigated exposure to radar, which uses RF fields above 6 GHz similar to 5 G. The epidemiological studies showed little evidence of health effects including cancer at different sites, effects on reproduction and other diseases. This review showed no confirmed evidence that low-level RF fields above 6 GHz such as those used by the 5 G network are hazardous to human health. Future experimental studies should improve the experimental design with particular attention to dosimetry and temperature control. Future epidemiological studies should continue to monitor long-term health effects in the population related to wireless telecommunications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Karipidis
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Rohan Mate
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Urban
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rick Tinker
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Wood
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Le Pogam P, Le Page Y, Habauzit D, Doué M, Zhadobov M, Sauleau R, Le Dréan Y, Rondeau D. Untargeted metabolomics unveil alterations of biomembranes permeability in human HaCaT keratinocytes upon 60 GHz millimeter-wave exposure. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9343. [PMID: 31249327 PMCID: PMC6597695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45662-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A joint metabolomic and lipidomic workflow is used to account for a potential effect of millimeter waves (MMW) around 60 GHz on biological tissues. For this purpose, HaCaT human keratinocytes were exposed at 60.4 GHz with an incident power density of 20 mW/cm², this value corresponding to the upper local exposure limit for general public in the context of a wide scale deployment of MMW technologies and devices. After a 24h-exposure, endo- and extracellular extracts were recovered to be submitted to an integrative UPLC-Q-Exactive metabolomic and lipidomic workflow. R-XCMS data processing and subsequent statistical treatment led to emphasize a limited number of altered features in lipidomic sequences and in intracellular metabolomic analyses, whatever the ionization mode (i.e 0 to 6 dysregulated features). Conversely, important dysregulations could be reported in extracellular metabolomic profiles with 111 and 99 frames being altered upon MMW exposure in positive and negative polarities, respectively. This unexpected extent of modifications can hardly stem from the mild changes that could be reported throughout transcriptomics studies, leading us to hypothesize that MMW might alter the permeability of cell membranes, as reported elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Le Pogam
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IETR (Institut d'Électronique et de Télécommunication de Rennes), UMR 6164, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Yann Le Page
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Denis Habauzit
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Mickael Doué
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IETR (Institut d'Électronique et de Télécommunication de Rennes), UMR 6164, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Maxim Zhadobov
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IETR (Institut d'Électronique et de Télécommunication de Rennes), UMR 6164, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Ronan Sauleau
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IETR (Institut d'Électronique et de Télécommunication de Rennes), UMR 6164, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Yves Le Dréan
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - David Rondeau
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IETR (Institut d'Électronique et de Télécommunication de Rennes), UMR 6164, F-35000, Rennes, France.
- Département de Chimie, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 avenue Victor Le Gorgeu, 29238, Brest, Cedex, France.
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Mazinani SA, Noaman N, Pergande MR, Cologna S, Coorssen J, Yan H. Exposure to microwave irradiation at constant culture temperature slows the growth of Escherichia coliDE3 cells, leading to modified proteomic profiles. RSC Adv 2019; 9:11810-11817. [PMID: 35517035 PMCID: PMC9063421 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra00617f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
E. coligrowth is slowed by exposure to non-lethal microwave irradiation, accompanied by changes in proteomic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Atrin Mazinani
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Biotechnology
- Brock University
- Ontario
- Canada
| | - Nour Noaman
- Department of Applied Health Sciences
- Department of Biological Sciences
- Brock University
- Ontario
- Canada
| | | | | | - Jens Coorssen
- Department of Applied Health Sciences
- Department of Biological Sciences
- Brock University
- Ontario
- Canada
| | - Hongbin Yan
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Biotechnology
- Brock University
- Ontario
- Canada
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Hovnanyan K, Kalantaryan V, Trchounian A. The distinguishing effects of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation of different extremely high frequencies on Enterococcus hirae: growth rate inhibition and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Lett Appl Microbiol 2017; 65:220-225. [PMID: 28609553 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A low-intensity electromagnetic field of extremely high frequency has inhibitory and stimulatory effects on bacteria, including Enterococcus hirae. It was shown that the low-intensity (the incident power density of 0·06 mW cm-2 ) electromagnetic field at the frequencies of 51·8 GHz and 53 GHz inhibited E. hirae ATCC 9790 bacterial growth rate; a stronger effect was observed with 53 GHz, regardless of exposure duration (0·5 h, 1 h or 2 h). Scanning electron microscopy analysis of these effects has been done; the cells were of spherical shape. Electromagnetic field at 53 GHz, but not 51·8 GHz, changed the cell size-the diameter was enlarged 1·3 fold at 53 GHz. These results suggest the difference in mechanisms of action on bacteria for electromagnetic fields at 51·8 GHz and 53 GHz. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY A stronger inhibitory effect of low-intensity electromagnetic field on Enterococcus hirae ATCC 9790 bacterial growth rate was observed with 53 GHz vs 51·8 GHz, regardless of exposure duration. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that almost all irradiated cells in the population have spherical shapes similar to nonirradiated ones, but they have increased diameters in case of irradiated cells at 53 GHz, but not 51·8 GHz. The results are novel, showing distinguishing effects of low-intensity electromagnetic field of different frequencies. They could be applied in treatment of food and different products in medicine and veterinary, where E. hirae plays an important role.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hovnanyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - V Kalantaryan
- Department of Radiophysics of High Frequences and Telecommunications, Faculty of Radiophysics, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - A Trchounian
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
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Molecular Mechanisms Contributing to the Growth and Physiology of an Extremophile Cultured with Dielectric Heating. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:6233-6246. [PMID: 27520819 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02020-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The effect of microwave frequency electromagnetic fields on living microorganisms is an active and highly contested area of research. One of the major drawbacks to using mesophilic organisms to study microwave radiation effects is the unavoidable heating of the organism, which has limited the scale (<5 ml) and duration (<1 h) of experiments. However, the negative effects of heating a mesophile can be mitigated by employing thermophiles (organisms able to grow at temperatures of >60°C). This study identified changes in global gene expression profiles during the growth of Thermus scotoductus SA-01 at 65°C using dielectric (2.45 GHz, i.e., microwave) heating. RNA sequencing was performed on cultures at 8, 14, and 24 h after inoculation to determine the molecular mechanisms contributing to long-term cellular growth and survival under microwave heating conditions. Over the course of growth, genes associated with amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and defense mechanisms were upregulated; the number of repressed genes with unknown function increased; and at all time points, transposases were upregulated. Genes involved in cell wall biogenesis and elongation were also upregulated, consistent with the distinct elongated cell morphology observed after 24 h using microwave heating. Analysis of the global differential gene expression data enabled the identification of molecular processes specific to the response of T. scotoductus SA-01 to dielectric heating during growth. IMPORTANCE The residual heating of living organisms in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum has complicated the identification of radiation-only effects using microorganisms for 50 years. A majority of the previous experiments used either mature cells or short exposure times with low-energy high-frequency radiation. Using global differential gene expression data, we identified molecular processes unique to dielectric heating using Thermus scotoductus SA-01 cultured over 30 h in a commercial microwave digestor. Genes associated with amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and defense mechanisms were upregulated; the number of repressed genes with unknown function increased; and at all time points, transposases were upregulated. These findings serve as a platform for future studies with mesophiles in order to better understand the response of microorganisms to microwave radiation.
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Comparative Analysis of UV Irradiation Effects on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacterial Cells Utilizing Biological and Computational Approaches. Cell Biochem Biophys 2016; 74:381-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s12013-016-0748-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Soghomonyan D, Trchounian K, Trchounian A. Millimeter waves or extremely high frequency electromagnetic fields in the environment: what are their effects on bacteria? Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:4761-71. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7538-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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The Enhanced Effects of Antibiotics Irradiated of Extremely High Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Escherichia coli Growth Properties. Cell Biochem Biophys 2014; 71:419-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s12013-014-0215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Hydrogenase activity and proton-motive force generation by Escherichia coli during glycerol fermentation. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2012; 45:253-60. [DOI: 10.1007/s10863-012-9498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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