Heat shock protein induction in fetal mouse brain as a measure of stress after whole of gestation exposure to mobile telephony radiofrequency fields

The Contribution of In Vivo Mammalian Studies to the Knowledge of Adverse Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation on Human Health

The proliferation of cellular antennas and other radiofrequency radiation (RFR) generating devices of the last decades has led to more and more concerns about the potential health effects from RFR exposure. Since the 2011 classification as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), more experimental studies have been published that support a causal association between RFR exposure and health hazards. As regard cancer risk, two long-term experimental studies have been recently published by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the Italian Ramazzini Institute (RI). Despite important experimental differences, both studies found statistically significant increases in the development of the same type of very rare glial malignant tumors. In addition to carcinogenicity, reproductive organs might be particularly exposed, as well as sensitive to RFR. In this work, we reviewed the currently available evidence from in vivo studies on carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity studies in order to summarize the contribution of experimental research to the prevention of the adverse effects of RFR on human health.

Cellular stress mechanisms of prenatal maternal stress: Heat shock factors and oxidative stress

Development of the brain prenatally is affected by maternal experience and exposure. Prenatal maternal psychological stress changes brain development and results in increased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, multiple levels of prenatal stress mechanisms (offspring brain, placenta, and maternal physiology) are discussed and their intersection with cellular stress mechanisms explicated. Heat shock factors and oxidative stress are closely related to each other and converge with the inflammation, hormones, and cellular development that have been more deeply explored as the basis of prenatal stress risk. Increasing evidence implicates cellular stress mechanisms in neuropsychiatric disorders associated with prenatal stress including affective disorders, schizophrenia, and child-onset psychiatric disorders. Heat shock factors and oxidative stress also have links with the mechanisms involved in other kinds of prenatal stress including external exposures such as environmental toxicants and internal disruptions such as preeclampsia. Integrative understanding of developmental neurobiology with these cellular and physiological mechanisms is necessary to reduce risks and promote healthy brain development.

Effect of 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on DNA and oxidative stress in brain

Ubiquitous and ever increasing use of mobile phones led to the growing concern about the effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by cell phones on biological systems. The aim of this study is to explore whether long-term RFR exposure at different frequencies affects DNA damage and oxidant-antioxidant parameters in the blood and brain tissue of rats. 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 7). They were identified as Group 1: sham-control, Group 2: 900 MHz, Group 3: 1800 MHz, and Group 4: 2100 MHz. Experimental groups of rats were exposed to RFR 2 h/day for 6 months. The sham-control group of rats was subjected to the same experimental condition but generator was turned off. Specific absorption rates (SARs) at brain with 1 g average were calculated as 0.0845 W/kg, 0.04563 W/kg, and 0.03957, at 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz, respectively. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) analyses were conducted in the brain tissue samples. Results of the study showed that DNA damage and oxidative stress indicators were found higher in the RFR exposure groups than in the sham-control group. In conclusion, 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz RFR emitted from mobile phones may cause oxidative damage, induce increase in lipid peroxidation, and increase oxidative DNA damage formation in the frontal lobe of the rat brain tissues. Furthermore, 2100-MHz RFR may cause formation of DNA single-strand breaks.

Age-dependent effect of long-term microwave radiation on postnatal neurogenesis in rats: morphological and behavioral study

Processes of adult neurogenesis can be influenced by environmental factors. Here, we investigated the effect of microwave radiation (MWR) on proliferation and cell dying in the rat rostral migratory stream (RMS) - a migration route for the neuroblasts of the subventricular zone. Adult and juvenile (two weeks old) rats were exposed to a pulsed-wave MWR at the frequency of 2.45 GHz for 1 or 3 h daily during 3 weeks. Adult rats were divided into two groups: without survival and with two weeks survival after irradiation. Juvenile rats survived till adulthood, when were tested in the light/dark test. Proliferating cells in the RMS were labeled by Ki-67; dying cells were visualized by Fluoro-Jade C histochemistry. In both groups of rats irradiated as adults we have observed significant decrease of the number of dividing cells within the RMS. Exposure of juvenile rats to MWR induced only slight decrease in proliferation, however, it strikingly affected cell death even two months following irradiation. In addition, these rats displayed locomotor hyperactivity and decreased risk assessment in adulthood. Our results suggest that the long-lasting influence of radiation is manifested by affected cell survival and changes in animals´ behavior.

Lessons and Perspectives from a 25-Year Bioelectromagnetics Research Program

The question of whether electromagnetic fields from electric power or telecommunications systems can be linked unequivocally to health detriments has occupied scientific research endeavors for nearly half a century. For 25 years, the bioelectromagnetic research group at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia, has pursued a series of investigations with relevant endpoints, such as neurophysiological and neuropsychological effects, cell calcium level changes, proliferation, and genotoxic effects. Most have shown no significant changes due to fields, however, in some pilot studies significant changes were revealed, but in most cases these were not replicated in follow-up studies. This highlights a feature of this research area, generally; the unambiguous identification of small changes in noisy data where the understanding of possible interaction mechanisms is lacking. On the other hand, mathematical modelling studies, particularly with respect to fields near metallic implants, in workers exposed to fields in harsh environmental conditions and at very high frequencies (THz), continue to add to the expanding knowledge database on the characteristics of the complex electromagnetic environment we live in today.

Effect of cell phone-like electromagnetic radiation on primary human thyroid cells

PURPOSE

To evaluate the potential carcinogenic effects of radiofrequency energy (RFE) emitted by cell phones on human thyroid primary cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primary thyroid cell culture was prepared from normal thyroid tissue obtained from patients who underwent surgery at our department. Subconfluent thyroid cells were irradiated under different conditions inside a cell incubator using a device that simulates cell phone-RFE. Proliferation of control and irradiated cells was assessed by the immunohistochemical staining of antigen Kiel clone-67 (Ki-67) and tumor suppressor p53 (p53) expression. DNA ploidy and the stress biomarkers heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

RESULTS

Our cells highly expressed thyroglobulin (Tg) and sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) confirming the origin of the tissue. None of the irradiation conditions evaluated here had an effect neither on the proliferation marker Ki-67 nor on p53 expression. DNA ploidy was also not affected by RFE, as well as the expression of the biomarkers HSP70 and ROS.

CONCLUSION

Our conditions of RFE exposure seem to have no potential carcinogenic effect on human thyroid cells. Moreover, common biomarkers usually associated to environmental stress also remained unchanged. We failed to find an association between cell phone-RFE and thyroid cancer. Additional studies are recommended.

Effects of radiofrequency-modulated electromagnetic fields on proteome

Proteomics, the science that examines the repertoire of proteins present in an organism using both high-throughput and low-throughput techniques, might give a better understanding of the functional processes ongoing in cells than genomics or transcriptomics, because proteins are the molecules that directly regulate physiological processes. Not all changes in gene expression are necessarily reflected in the proteome. Therefore, using proteomics approaches to study the effects of RF-EMF might provide information about potential biological and health effects. Especially that the RF-EMF used in wireless communication devices has very low energy and is unable to directly induce gene mutations.

In utero and early-life exposure of rats to a Wi-Fi signal: screening of immune markers in sera and gestational outcome

An experimental approach was used to assess immunological biomarkers in the sera of young rats exposed in utero and postnatal to non-ionizing radiofrequency fields. Pregnant rats were exposed free-running, 2 h/day and 5 days/week to a 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi signal in a reverberation chamber at whole-body specific absorption rates (SAR) of 0, 0.08, 0.4, and 4 W/kg (with 10, 10, 12, and 9 rats, respectively), while cage control rats were kept in the animal facility (11 rats). Dams were exposed from days 6 to 21 of gestation and then three newborns per litter were further exposed from birth to day 35 postnatal. On day 35 after birth, all pups were sacrificed and sera collected. The screening of sera for antibodies directed against 15 different antigens related to damage and/or pathological markers was conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No change in humoral response of young pups was observed, regardless of the types of biomarker and SAR levels. This study also provided some data on gestational outcome following in utero exposure to Wi-Fi signals. Mass evaluation of dams and pups and the number of pups per litter was monitored, and the genital tracts of young rats were observed for abnormalities by measuring anogenital distance. Under these experimental conditions, our observations suggest a lack of adverse effects of Wi-Fi exposure on delivery and general condition of the animals.

Impacto do uso do telefone celular na saúde de crianças e adolescentes

OBJETIVO: Apresentar o conhecimento sobre efeitos biológicos dos campos eletromagnéticos, detalhes da absorção da energia dos campos de micro-ondas na criança, efeitos da exposição a esses campos no período pré e pós-natal e impacto do uso dos telefones celulares no sistema nervoso central e no comportamento de crianças. FONTES DE DADOS: Trabalhos em língua inglesa publicados entre 2004 e 2009 e indexados na base de dados PubMed com os unitermos: "crianças", "telefones celulares" e "micro-ondas". SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Telefones celulares emitem radiofrequência na faixa de micro-ondas, cujos efeitos biológicos podem ser térmicos (aquecimento dos tecidos) ou não térmicos (estresse oxidativo e mudanças na conformação da cromatina). Pesquisas experimentais sugerem que a dissipação da energia de radiofrequência nos tecidos seria maior na criança do que no adulto. Em ratos, a exposição pré-natal à radiofrequência em níveis não térmicos não produz efeito teratogênico ou mutagênico, nem aumento da permeabilidade da barreira hematoencefálica ou da expressão de heat shock proteins no encéfalo. Não há evidência de efeito nocivo da radiação dos celulares na cognição de crianças. Fazer ligações ou enviar mensagens de texto no horário noturno aumenta a probabilidade de sonolência diurna em adolescentes. Crianças que usam mais o celular podem ter déficit de memória e comportamento impulsivo. CONCLUSÕES: Não está comprovado que a exposição à radiação dos celulares, pré ou pós-natal, dentro dos limites de segurança para humanos, induz dano ao desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. Entretanto, padrões culturais relacionados à posse e uso dos aparelhos influenciam o comportamento de crianças e adolescentes e podem provocar distúrbios do sono.

Comparison of radiofrequency exposure of a mouse dam and foetuses at 900 MHz

In vivo studies involving radiofrequency (RF) exposure of rodents require detailed dosimetric analysis to enable correct interpretation of biological outcomes. Detailed anatomical models of mice--a female, a pregnant female, a male and a foetus--have been developed for analyses using finite difference numerical techniques. The mouse models, consisting of 49 tissues, will be made freely available to the research community. In this note, the pregnant mouse model, which included eight mature foetuses, was utilized specifically to consider (a) the RF dosimetry in a radial cavity exposure system operated at a frequency of 900 MHz and (b) a 900 MHz plane wave exposure. A comparison was made between the exposure of the mouse dam and the foetuses as specified by the specific energy absorption rate (SAR) and the resultant temperature change. In general, the SAR levels in the foetuses were determined to be slightly lower (around 14% lower than the average values of the dam) and the peak temperature increase was significantly lower (45%) than the values in the dam.