Abstract

Overview

Emerging concerns regarding the safety of mobile phone usage have targeted their potential for causing biological effects, primarily focusing on childhood leukemia risks due to mutations in hematopoietic stem cells.

Findings

• Analysis concentrated on biochemical markers of cellular damage including reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage, and apoptotic levels in cells exposed to microwaves from mobile phones.
• Exposure scenarios replicated real-world mobile phone emissions (GSM900/UMTS) to evaluate their effects on umbilical cord blood cells.
• Techniques utilized included flow cytometry, fluorescent microscopy, imaging flow cytometry, comet assay, and RT-qPCR to assess cellular responses.
• Significant increases in ROS were observed shortly after exposure, although these did not translate into long-term DNA damage or apoptosis.

Conclusion

While transient increases in ROS levels were noted, the enduring effects such as DNA damage or development of preleukemic conditions were not supported by the findings, underscoring the need for continued scrutiny on the biologic impacts of mobile phone emissions.