Abstract

Abstract Summary

Overview

The increasing adoption of wireless technologies has introduced new types of environmental pollutants, prominently radiofrequency radiation (RFR). This study explores both direct and bystander effects caused by RFR, particularly in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNP).

Methodology

• Use of a non-toxic dose of 15-nm GNP to treat Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells.
• Post 48-hour incubation, exposure of cells to 900 MHz GSM RFR for 24 hours.
• Analysis of cell deaths, DNA breaks, oxidative stress, and COX-2 expression in treated and bystander cells.

Findings

RFR increased metabolic death and decreased colony formation in cells, both in the presence and absence of GNP. Interestingly, levels of reactive oxygen species in GNP-treated cells were significantly lower compared to untreated cells. Additionally, while RFR-induced DNA breaks and micronuclei frequency were unchanged by GNP presence, COX-2 expression levels were not significantly altered.

Conclusion

This study is pioneering in showing that RFR can induce indirect effects in the presence of GNP, with molecular mediators differing from those absent of GNP. Notably, it also demonstrates that COX-2 is not involved in the bystander effect induced by RFR at 900 MHz, filling a gap in current knowledge regarding environmental contaminants and cell health.