Genotoxic effects of electromagnetic field radiations from mobile phones (Review)

Abstract

Genotoxic effects of electromagnetic field radiations from mobile phones (Review) Ganesh Chandra Jagetia. Genotoxic effects of electromagnetic field radiations from mobile phones. Environmental Research. 2022. 113321. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113321. Highlights • The exposure to electromagnetic field radiation has increased tremendously from manmade electronic gadgets in addition to natural sources. • A few studies on mobile phone exposure indicated that it does not cause harmful effects. • The studies indicated a positive correlation between mobile phone use and genotoxic effects that outnumber the negative effect. • Electromagnetic field radiations increase reactive oxygen species formation that causes mutagenic and genotoxic effects leading to cancer. Abstract The use of wireless communication technology in mobile phones has revolutionized modern telecommunication and mobile phones have become so popular that their number exceeds the global population. Electromagnetic field radiations (EMR) are an integral part of wireless technology, which are emitted by mobile phones, mobile towers, electric power stations, transmission lines, radars, microwave ovens, television sets, refrigerators, diagnostic/therapeutic and other electronic devices. The manmade EMR sources have added to the existing burden of natural EMR human exposure arising from the Sun, cosmos, atmospheric discharges, and thunderstorms. EMR including radiofrequency waves (RF) and extremely low frequency radiation (ELF) has generated great interest as their human exposure causes headache, fatigue, tinnitus, concentration problems, depression, memory loss, skin irritation, sleep disorders, nausea, cardiovascular effects, chest pain, immunity and hormonal disorders as the short-term effects and cancer as the late effect. The review has been written by collecting the information using various search engines including google scholar, PubMed SciFinder, Science direct, EMF-portal, saferemr, and other websites on the internet and its main focus is on the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of EMR in humans and mammals. Numerous investigations revealed that exposure in the range of 0–300 GHz EMR is harmless as this did not increase micronuclei and chromosome aberrations. On the contrary, several other studies have demonstrated that exposure to EMR increases the frequency of micronuclei, chromosome aberrations, DNA adducts, DNA single and double strand breaks at the molecular level in vitro and in vivo. The EMR exposure induces reactive oxygen species and changes the fidelity of genes involved in signal transduction, cytoskeleton formation, and cellular metabolism. Excerpts Table 1 lists 75 (23 ELF/IF, 52 RF) studies that did not find significant genotoxic effects. Table 2 lists 145 (47 ELF/IF, 98 RF) studies that reported significant genotoxic effects. Conclusions The electromagnetic radiations especially in the radiofrequency range are long wavelength radiation and they have a wide application in wireless communication. Human exposure to EMF-RF-ELF is from electrical transmission lines, mobile signal transmission towers, mobile phones, microwaves and various electronic gadgets which are in daily use. A phenomenal rise in the subscription of mobile phones which continues unabated has drastically increased the exposure to EMF-RF-ELF of children and adults equally. Various agencies worldwide have also raised concern about the ill effects of these radiations. Investigations reporting that EMF- RF-ELF exposures are are genotoxic outnumber the reports that the EMF-RF-ELF exposure are not harmful to the human population, Various preclinical models report the genotoxic effect of EMF-RF-ELF in the form of chromosome condensation, various types of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei formation, sister chromatid exchanges, DNA base damages, DNA adduct formation, DNA SSBs and DNA DSBs. The EMF-RF-ELF triggered the formation of ROS, which seem to be responsible for all the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of EMF-RF-ELF. EMF-RF-ELF also reduces antioxidant status by alleviating GSH, catalase, SOD, GST, GPx and increasing lipid peroxidation. At the molecular level EMF-RF-ELF stimulates the activation NF-κB, TNF-α, HSP 70, p53, Chk-2, p38, LC3-II, pAMPK, PARP, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, DNA-PKcs, RAD9B, BM11, cytochrome c release and cleaved caspase- 3 and subsequently downmodulates p21, p62, p-mTOR, GADD45α, XRCC1, XRCC4, Ku80 (XRCC5), Ku70 (XRCC6), and LIG4, caspase3 and Bcl2 which are involved in numerous cellular processes. The repeated EMF-RF-ELF exposures exert a negative effect on human health and cause mutagenesis and cancer in humans. It will be prudent to follow ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle to minimize the adverse effect on humans. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This review summarizes studies on EMR (including RF and ELF) and reports that many investigations found no increase in micronuclei or chromosome aberrations, while other studies reported increased micronuclei, chromosome aberrations, DNA adducts, and DNA strand breaks in vitro and in vivo. The author states that studies reporting significant genotoxic effects outnumber those reporting no significant effects and describes ROS-related mechanisms.

Outcomes measured

• Genotoxicity
• Micronuclei frequency
• Chromosome aberrations
• DNA adducts
• DNA single-strand breaks
• DNA double-strand breaks
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
• Antioxidant status (e.g., GSH, catalase, SOD, GST, GPx)
• Lipid peroxidation
• Cancer (late effect; discussed)

Limitations

• Narrative review; methods for study selection and synthesis are not fully specified beyond use of multiple search engines/websites
• No quantitative meta-analysis reported in the abstract
• Exposure parameters (e.g., specific frequencies, SAR, durations) not consistently specified in the abstract
• Includes heterogeneous evidence (ELF/IF and RF; in vitro and in vivo; humans and mammals)

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.22)
  Discusses health concerns and precautionary approach (ALARA) in context of widespread EMF exposure; relevant to guideline/policy discussions.

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    "exposure": {
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        "source": "mobile phone",
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    "sample_size": null,
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        "DNA double-strand breaks",
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        "Cancer (late effect; discussed)"
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    "effect_direction": "mixed",
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    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
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