MEASUREMENT OF DNA-DAMAGE AFTER EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC-RADIATIONIN THE CELLULAR PHONE COMMUNICATION FREQUENCY BAND (835.62 AND 847.74MHZ)

Mouse C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts and human glioblastoma U87MG cells were e xposed to cellular phone communication frequency radiations to investi gate whether such exposure produces DNA damage in in vitro cultures. T wo types of frequency modulations were studied: frequency-modulated co ntinuous-wave (FMCW), with a carrier frequency of 835.62 MHz, and code -division multiple-access (CDMA) centered on 847.74 MHz. Exponentially growing (U87MG and C3H 10T1/2 cells) and plateau-phase (C3H 10T1/2 ce lls) cultures were exposed to either FMCW or CDMA radiation for varyin g periods up to 24 h in specially designed radial transmission lines ( RTLs) that provided relatively uniform exposure with a specific absorp tion rate (SAR) of 0.6 W/kg. Temperatures in the RTLs were monitored c ontinuously and maintained at 37 +/- 0.3 degrees C. Sham exposure of c ultures in an RTL (negative control) and Cs-137 gamma-irradiated sampl es (positive control) were included with every experiment. The alkalin e comet assay as described by Olive et al. (Exp. Cell Res. 198, 259-26 9, 1992) was used to measure DNA damage. No significant differences we re observed between the test group exposed to FMCW or CDMA radiation a nd the sham-treated negative controls. Our results indicate that expos ure of cultured mammalian cells to cellular phone communication freque ncies under these conditions at an SAR of 0.6 W/kg does not cause DNA damage as measured by the alkaline comet assay. (C) 1997 by Radiation Research Society.