Immunotoxicity of radiofrequency radiation (Review)

Abstract

Immunotoxicity of radiofrequency radiation (Review) Himanshi Yadav, Radhey Shyam Sharma, Rajeev Singh. Immunotoxicity of radiofrequency radiation. Environmental Pollution. 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119793. Highlights • Drastic growth in communication technologies increased RFR exposure in environment • Recent evidences show close relation among radiation sensitivity and immune effects • An intracellular signaling cascade responsible for RFR action on immune system is suggested • A better understanding of RFR linked cell effects might help radiation protection • Urgent need to recognize probable hazards of using RFR emitting devices in excess Abstract Growing evidence recommends that radiofrequency radiations might be a new type of environmental pollutant. The consequences of RFR on the human immune system have gained considerable interest in recent years, not only to examine probable negative effects on health but also to understand if RFR can modulate the immune response positively. Although several studies have been published on the immune effects of RFR but no satisfactory agreement has been reached. Hence this review aims to evaluate the RFR modulating impacts on particular immune cells contributing to various innate or adaptive immune responses. In view of existing pieces of evidence, we have suggested an intracellular signaling cascade responsible for RFR action. The bio-effects of RFR on immune cell morphology, viability, proliferation, genome integrity, and immune functions such as ROS, cytokine secretion, phagocytosis, apoptosis, etc. are discussed. The majority of existing evidence point toward the possible shifts in the activity, number, and/or function of immunocompetent cells, but the outcome of several studies is still contradictory and needs further studies to reach a conclusion. Also, the direct association of experimental studies to human risks might not be helpful as exposure parameters vary in real life. On the basis of recent available literature, we suggest that special experiments should be designed to test each particular signal utilized in communication technologies to rule out the hypothesis that longer exposure to RFR emitting devices would affect the immunity by inducing genotoxic effects in human immune cells. Concluding remarks I. Till date, the bulk of available research articles remarkably indicated the RFR-induced changes in innate and adaptive immune responses. The morphological and physiological modulations in the immune cells were reported such as variation in viability, gene and protein expression, generation of ROS, induction of DNA damage, stimulation of inflammatory markers, altered normal immune functions and eventually provoking inflammatory reactions, chronic allergic reactions, autoimmune responses leading to damaged tissues and organs. II. The oxidative stress via causing free radical damage to DNA appears to be the main mechanism for RFR action. III. Many RFR studies showed conflicting conclusions because of the scarcity of subjects, variations in distance from the radiation source, exposure time, RFR frequency, mode of modulation, SAR, or power density used in various studies. Furthermore, studies even with the same experimental design showed varied responses in different types of cells. IV. On the other hand, the findings from in vitro and in vivo studies on RFR should not be directly linked to human mobile phone usage as the duration and level of exposure to radiofrequency radiation were much higher in experimental studies as compared to what people experience with even high cell phone usage. V. Collectively, in view of discussed limitations, the available research studies might not be enough to understand the RFR effect on the immune system. VI. Since, the controversies exist in the recent literature on the effects of RFR on immune cell physiology, substantially more coordinated and detailed studies are needed to set up a definitive trend in RFR effects on immune cells. Such studies are also required to address the important issues of safety for the usage of technologies like cell phones and wireless equipment that are used increasingly in our everyday lives and to revise the current EMF public safety limits. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This review summarizes evidence on radiofrequency radiation (RFR) effects on immune cells and reports that many studies indicate changes in immune cell activity/number/function and immune-related endpoints (e.g., ROS, cytokines, DNA damage), but conclusions across studies are contradictory and not sufficient to establish a definitive trend. The authors note that experimental exposures are often higher than real-life mobile phone use and that variability in exposure parameters contributes to inconsistent findings.

Outcomes measured

• immune cell morphology
• immune cell viability
• immune cell proliferation
• genome integrity/DNA damage
• ROS/oxidative stress
• cytokine secretion
• phagocytosis
• apoptosis
• inflammatory markers
• innate immune responses
• adaptive immune responses
• gene and protein expression
• autoimmune responses (discussed)
• allergic reactions (discussed)

Limitations

• No satisfactory agreement across published studies; outcomes are contradictory
• Heterogeneity in exposure parameters (distance, exposure time, frequency, modulation, SAR/power density)
• Scarcity of subjects in some studies
• Even similar experimental designs show varied responses across cell types
• Experimental in vitro/in vivo exposures often higher than real-life exposures; limited direct applicability to human risk
• Authors conclude available studies may be insufficient to understand RFR effects on the immune system

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.32)
  Discusses implications for public safety limits and need to revise EMF limits, relevant to guideline/policy context.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "communication technologies; RFR emitting devices (e.g., cell phones, wireless equipment)",
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    "main_findings": "This review summarizes evidence on radiofrequency radiation (RFR) effects on immune cells and reports that many studies indicate changes in immune cell activity/number/function and immune-related endpoints (e.g., ROS, cytokines, DNA damage), but conclusions across studies are contradictory and not sufficient to establish a definitive trend. The authors note that experimental exposures are often higher than real-life mobile phone use and that variability in exposure parameters contributes to inconsistent findings.",
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        "Authors conclude available studies may be insufficient to understand RFR effects on the immune system"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
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}

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