Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells after acute exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.
We investigated the effects of acute (2-h) exposure to pulsed (2-micros pulse width, 500 pulses s(-1)) and continuous wave 2450-MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA strand breaks in brain cells of rat. The spatial averaged power density of the radiation was 2mW/cm2, which produced a whole-body average-specific absorption rate of 1.2W/kg. Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in individual brain cells were measured at 4h post-exposure using a microgel electrophoresis assay. An increase in both types of DNA strand breaks was observed after exposure to either the pulsed or continuous-wave radiation, No significant difference was observed between the effects of the two forms of radiation. We speculate that these effects could result from a direct effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy on DNA molecules and/or impairment of DNA-damage repair mechanisms in brain cells. Our data further support the results of earlier in vitro and in vivo studies showing effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA.
Lai
H
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Bioelectromagetics Research Laboratory, Center for Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, USA.
Singh
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NP
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D008297:Male; D011846:Radio Waves; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004247:DNA