Neoplastic transformation in C3H 10T1/2 cells after exposure to 835.62 MHzFDMA and 847.74 MHz CDMA radiations

The effect of radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the cellular phone communica tion range (835.62 MHz frequency division multiple access, FDMA; 847.74 MHz code division multiple access, CDMA) on neoplastic transformation frequenc y was measured using the in vitro C3H 10T1/2 cell transformation assay syst em. To determine if 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiations have any genotoxic effects that induce neoplastic transformation, C3H 10T1/2 cells w ere exposed at 37 degreesC to either of the above radiations [each at a spe cific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.6 W/kg] or sham-exposed at the same time f or 7 days. After the culture medium was changed, the cultures were transfer red to incubators and refed with fresh growth medium every 7 days. After 42 days, the cells were fixed and stained with Giemsa, and transformed foci w ere scored. To determine if exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiation has any epigenetic effects that can promote neoplastic transforma tion, cells were first exposed to 4.5 Gy of X rays to induce the transforma tion process and then exposed to the above radiations (SAR = 0.6 W/kg) in t emperature-controlled irradiators with weekly refeeding for 42 days. After both the 7-day RF exposure and the 42-day RF exposure after X irradiation, no statistically significant differences in the transformation frequencies were observed between incubator controls, the sham-exposed (maintained in i rradiators without power to the antenna), and the 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA-exposed groups. (C) 2001 by Radiation Research Society.