title: Analysis of the Genotoxic Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation using Buccal Micronucleus Assay: A Comparative Evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micronucleus (MN) is considered to be a reliable marker for genotoxic damage and it determines the presence and the extent of the chromosomal damage. The MN is formed due to DNA damage or chromosomal disarrangements. The MN has a close association with cancer incidences. In the new era, mobile phones are constantly gaining popularity specifically in the young generation, but this device uses radiofrequency radiation that may have a possible carcinogenic effect. The available reports related to the carcinogenic effect of mobile radiation on oral mucosa are contradictory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of mobile phone radiation on the MN frequency in oral mucosal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were divided into two major groups: low mobile phone users and high mobile phone users. Subjects who used their mobile phone since less than five years and less than three hours a week comprised of the first group and those who used their mobile since more than five years and more than 10 hours a week comprised of the second group. Net surfing and text messaging was not considered in this study. Exfoliated buccal mucosal cells were collected from both the groups and the cells were stained with DNA-specific stain acridine orange. Thousand exfoliated buccal mucosal cells were screened and the cells which were positive for micronuclei were counted. The micronucleus frequency was represented as mean±SD, and unpaired Student t-test was used for intergroup comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of micronucleated cells/ 1000 exfoliated buccal mucosal cells was found to be significantly increased in high mobile phone users group than the low mobile phone users group. The use of mobile phone with the associated complaint of warmth around the ear showed a maximum increase in the number of micronucleated cells /1000 exfoliated buccal mucosal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mobile phone radiation even in the permissible range when used for longer duration causes significant genotoxicity. The genotoxicity can be avoided to some extent by the regular use of headphones.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Dental College, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences , Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India .
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Oral Pathology, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Center , Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Narendra Nath
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Babu Banarasi Das College of Dental Sciences , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Gadiputi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sreedhar
authors.affiliation: DBT-Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, Manipur University , Imphal, Manipur, India .
authors.forename: Saikat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
keywords: Acridine orange; DNA damage; DNA specific stain; Micronucleus; Oral mucosa; Radiofrequency radiation