title: A cross-sectional case control study on genetic damage in individuals residing in the vicinity of a mobile phone base station.
abstract: Mobile phone base stations facilitate good communication, but the continuously emitting radiations from these stations have raised health concerns. Hence in this study, genetic damage using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was assessed in peripheral blood leukocytes of individuals residing in the vicinity of a mobile phone base station and comparing it to that in healthy controls. The power density in the area within 300 m from the base station exceeded the permissive limits and was significantly (p = 0.000) higher compared to the area from where control samples were collected. The study participants comprised 63 persons with residences near a mobile phone tower, and 28 healthy controls matched for gender, age, alcohol drinking and occupational sub-groups. Genetic damage parameters of DNA migration length, damage frequency (DF) and damage index were significantly (p = 0.000) elevated in the sample group compared to respective values in healthy controls. The female residents (n = 25) of the sample group had significantly (p = 0.004) elevated DF than the male residents (n = 38). The linear regression analysis further revealed daily mobile phone usage, location of residence and power density as significant predictors of genetic damage. The genetic damage evident in the participants of this study needs to be addressed against future disease-risk, which in addition to neurodegenerative disorders, may lead to cancer.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Genetics , Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar , Punjab , India.
authors.forename: Gursatej
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Genetics , Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar , Punjab , India.
authors.forename: Gurpreet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Genetics , Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar , Punjab , India.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nisar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D040421:Cell Phone; D020552:Comet Assay; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA damage; peripheral blood leukocytes; radiofrequency radiations