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A Preliminary
Study to Assess Possible Chromosomal Damage Among Users of
Digital Mobile Phones 9/22/2003
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P. K. Gadhia *Corresponding
Tejal Shah 1
Amit Mistry 1
Meonis Pithawala 1
Dipesh Tamakuwala 1
1 Department of Biosciences
South Gujarat University
Surat, 395 007, India
Abstract
In a preliminary study to examine possible lymphocyte
chromosomal
damage, we have tested two cytogenetic endpoints, namely,
chromosomal
aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchange frequencies (SCE),
in 24
mobile phone users (12 nonsmoker-nonalcoholic subjects and 12
smoker-alcoholics), who used digital mobile phones for at least
2 years,
employing Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying modulations with uplink
frequencies at 935-960 MHz. and downlinks at 890-915 MHz.
For comparison, the control study group included another 24
individuals,
matched according to their age, sex, drinking and smoking
habits, as
well as similar health status, working habits, and professional
careers;
but did not use mobile phones.
Blood samples of 12 mobile users (6 smoker-alcoholic and 6
nonsmoker-nonalcoholic) and 12 controls (identical to mobile
users in
every respect) were further treated with a known mutagen
Mitomycin-C
(MMC) to find out comutagenic/synergistic effect. A complete
blood
picture for each individual was assessed with an automatic
particle cell
counter.
There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in dicentric
chromosomes
among mobile users who were smoker-alcoholic as compared to
nonsmoker-nonalcoholic; the same held true for controls of both
types.
After MMC treatment, there was a significant increase in
dicentrics (P<
0.05) and ring chromosomes (P < 0.001) in both smoker-alcoholic
and
nonsmoker-nonalcoholic mobile users when compared with the
controls.
Although SCEs showed a significant increase among mobile users,
no
change in cell cycle progression was noted. The hematological
picture
showed only minor variations between mobile users and controls.
Published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine , Volume 22 ,
Issue 2
Print ISSN: 1536-8378
Online ISSN: 1536-8386
Pages: 149 - 159 | PDF File Size: 351 KB
DOI: 10.1081/JBC-120024624
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