SINGLE-STRAND 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-mu s pulse width, 500 pulses s(-1)) and continuous-wave 2450-MHz radiofrequ ency electromagnetic radiation on DNA strand breaks in brain cells of rat. The spatial averaged power density of the radiation was 2 mW/cm(2 ), which produced a whole-body average-specific absorption rate of 1.2 W/kg. Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in individual brain cells were measured at 4 h post-exposure using a microgel electrophoresis as say. An increase in both types of DNA strand breaks was observed after exposure to either the pulsed or continuous-wave radiation. No signif icant 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/o r impairment of DNA-damage repair mechanisms in brain cells. Our data further support the results of earlier in vitro and in vivo studies sh owing effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA.