Skin Fibroblasts from Individuals Self-Diagnosed as Electrosensitive Reveal Two Distinct Subsets with Delayed Nucleoshuttling of the ATM Protein in Common
Abstract
Overview
Electromagnetic hyper-sensitivity (EHS) and its causal link with radio-frequencies raise a major question of public health.
- Within a clinical study (DEMETER), 26 adult volunteers self-diagnosed as EHS-positive were enrolled.
- Participants completed a self-assessment questionnaire and provided skin biopsy samples to establish primary fibroblast cell lines.
Findings
Both questionnaire and biological assessments identified two independently verified subsets of EHS individuals:
- LBHR (Low Background, Highly Responsive): Exhibiting high cancer risk.
- HBLR (High Background, Lowly Responsive): Exhibiting risk for accelerated aging.
The subsets defined by self-report and by spontaneous DNA double-strand break yield overlapped by 64%.
- Upon X-ray exposure, all DEMETER fibroblasts (26/26) showed delayed radiation-induced ATM nucleoshuttling (RIANS), a molecular marker linked with impaired DNA repair.
- RIANS biomarker analysis shows these EHS-linked phenotypes correspond to increased risk of cancer or accelerated aging.
- Further tests exposing cells to H2O2 confirmed that EHS may be related to deficiencies in DNA strand break management.
Conclusion
A preliminary molecular model is proposed connecting EHS to ATM pathway dysfunction, providing new insights into biological responses associated with electromagnetic field exposure. This evidence underlines a possible mechanism by which EMF exposure may increase cancer risk or accelerate aging, supporting concerns regarding EMF safety and public health.