Genotoxicity and genomic instability in rat primary astrocyes exposed to 872 MHz RF and chemicals

Abstract

Overview

The study focuses on understanding the effects of 872MHz radiofrequency (RF) radiation on rat primary astrocytes, particularly looking at genotoxicity, co-genotoxicity, and induced genomic instability (IGI).

Materials and Methods

• Subjects: Rat primary astrocytes
• Exposure: 872MHz GSM-modulated or continuous wave (CW) RF radiation
• Dosage: Specific absorption rates of 0.6 or 6.0 W/kg over 24 hours
• Co-exposures: Menadione (MQ) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; only in genotoxicity experiments)
• Detection Techniques: Alkaline Comet assay and flow cytometric micronucleus scoring

Findings

RF radiation alone showed no signs of IGI or genotoxicity. When combined with chemical exposures, observations included:

• Increase in DNA damage at 6.0 W/kg for GSM-modulated RF and MQ
• Decrease in DNA damage at 0.6 W/kg for GSM-modulated RF and MQ
• Increase in micronucleus frequency for CW RF at 0.6 W/kg with MMS

Conclusion

Exposures up to 6.0 W/kg of GSM-modulated RF radiation did not induce genomic instability in rat primary astrocytes and demonstrated no genotoxicity on its own. Results on co-genotoxicity of RF radiation with chemicals were inconsistent.