ID Number		55
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		900 MHz (GSM), 2450 MHz (CW), 455 MHz (CW) exposure to human lymphocytes and analysis of chromosome aberrations
Details		Human lymphocytes from healthy male donors were exposed to 900 MHz (GSM) at SARs between 0-10 W/kg. No effects of RF exposure were observed on chromosome aberrations or sister chromatid exchange with either RF alone or in combination with mitomycin C or X-rays. In earlier studies lymphocytes from healthy donors were exposed to a 954 MHz (GSM) base station antenna for 2 hours at an SAR of ~1.5 W/kg, to 935.2 MHz (GSM) for 2 hours at 0.3 - 0.4 W/kg in a TEM cell, or to 2450 MHz (AM-50 Hz) for 30 and 120 minutes at 75 W/kg. Following exposure, lymphocytes were stimulated with mitogen (PHA) for 48 hrs, blocked in M phase with colcemid, and Giemsa stained metaphase spreads were analyzed for chromosome abnormalities. Exposure to 2450 MHz for 30 & 120 minutes at 75 W/kg did resulted in an increased frequency of chromosome aberrations and micronuclei, although no increase in sister chromatid exchange or proliferation rate was observed (during the assay, temperature was reported to be computer controlled to within 0.1 degree C). Exposure to 954 & 935.2 MHz RF did not cause direct chromosome aberrations, but did synergize with mitomycin C to increase the number of sister chromatid exchange events. In a similar study, the authors did not observe any statistically significant effects when lymphocytes were exposed to RF, +/- co-treatment with MMC or X-rays, for 2 hours by placing them 5 cm from a 455 MHz car phone antenna with an estimated SAR of ~ 6.5 W/kg. The authors concluded from these earleir studies that microwaves emitted by base station antennas are not likely to induce genetic defects in the general population. This is supported by their most recent studies of no effects published in Bioelectromagnetics (2001) and in a presentation at EBEA 2001 in Helsinki.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		VITO, Belgium - verschal@vitoosf1.vito.be
Funding Agency		Belgacom, Belgium
Country		BELGIUM
References		Maes, AM et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (2001) 22:91-96 Maes, A et al. Folia Biologica (Praha), (2000) 46:175-180 Maes, A et al. Electro- and Magnetobiol., (1995) 14:91-98 Maes, A et al. Environmental Molecular Mutagenesis, (1996) 28:26-30 Maes, A et al. Bioelectromagnetics, (1993) 14:495-501
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