Lymphomas in Eμ-Pim1 Transgenic Mice Exposed to Pulsed 900 MHz Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

Whether radiofrequency (RF) fields are carcinogenic is controversial; epidemiological data have been inconclusive and animal tests limited. The aim of the present study was to determine whether long-term exposure to pulse-modulated RF fields similar to those used in digital mobile telecommunications would increase the incidence of lymphoma in E mu-Pim1 transgenic mice, which are moderately predisposed to develop lymphoma spontaneously. One hundred female E mu-Pim1 mice were sham-exposed and 101 were exposed for two 30-min periods per day for up to 18 months to plane-wave fields of 900 MHz with a pulse repetition frequency of 217 Hz and a pulse width of 0.6 ms. Incident power densities were 2.6-13 W/m2 and specific absorption rates were 0.008-4.2 W/kg, averaging 0.13-1.4 W/kg. Lymphoma risk was found to be significantly higher in the exposed mice than in the controls (OR = 2.4. P = 0.006, 95% CI = 1.3-4.5). Follicular lymphomas were the major contributor to the increased tumor incidence. Thus long-term intermittent exposure to RF fields can enhance the probability that mice carrying a lymphomagenic oncogene will develop lymphomas. We suggest that such genetically cancer-prone mice provide an experimental system for more detailed assessment of dose-response relationships for risk of cancer after RF-field exposure.

MICROWAVE EFFECT OF 0.9 GHz AND 1.8 GHz CW FREQUENCIES EXPOSED TO UNRESTRAINED SWISS ALBINO MICE

“…MCV values of mice in 0.9 GHz exposed group increased with prolonged exposure while mice in the 1.8 GHz exposed group are on the contrary. These results are in agreement with previous studies done by [16] which reported that long-term intermittent exposure to EMF can enhance the probability that mice carrying a lymphomagenic oncogene will develop lymphomas. Significant decrease was also recorded related to RBCs, HB, and HT, MCV and MCH compared to the control group.…”

“…This restrained position is reported causing stress related changes in [17,20] and imposes constraints on behavior and brain development of the animals [21]. The study of long term effect in this condition is also not appropriate as no exposures per day and per week will be identical leading to serious comparative difficulties as reported in [16,22,23].…”

“…This emerging technology to date has witnessed a lot of research papers with many contradictions. Most significant researches were done using mice exposed to either GSM frequencies or frequencies around that of GSM as in [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Research on haematological parameters in [18] reported that thermal effects of RF EMF was capable of increasing neutrophils and decreased the levels of lymphocytes.…”

Comments on “Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes” by Schwarz et al. (Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2008: doi: 10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5)

“…When replicated, however, even those studies were found to be non reproducible. One well-known example is the study by Repacholi et al (1997)who have reported higher incidences of lymphoma in transgenic mice which were exposed to pulsed EMF at 900 MHz (Repacholi et al 1997). Two independent replication studies did not conWrm the earlier Wndings (Oberto et al 2007; Utteridge et al 2002).…”

Effects of exposure to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field on the expression of Hsps and phosphorylation of MAPKs in human lens epithelial cells

“…However, the results of these studies are conflicting. Some have implicated an increased health risk [1], but most studies have shown no effects [2]. The lens epithelial cells (LECs) are a single layer of cuboidal cells at the anterior surface of the lens, which retain the proliferative capacity and are important for maintaining the metabolic homeostasis and transparency of the lens.…”