CYTOGENETIC OBSERVATIONS IN HUMAN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES FOLLOWING IN VITRO EXPOSURE TO THz RADIATION: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Emerging technologies are considering the possible use of Terahertz radiation in different fields ranging from telecommunications to biology and biomedicine. The study of the potential effects of Terahertz radiation on biological systems is therefore an important issue in order to safely develop a variety of applications. This paper describes a pilot study devoted to determine if Terahertz radiation could induce genotoxic effects in human peripheral blood leukocytes. For this purpose, human whole blood samples from healthy donors were exposed for 20 min to Terahertz radiation. Since, to our knowledge, this is the first study devoted to the evaluation of possible genotoxic effects of such radiation, different electromagnetic conditions were considered. In particular, the frequencies of 120 and 130 GHz were chosen: the first one was tested at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.4 mW g-1, while the second one was tested at SAR levels of 0.24, 1.4, and 2 mW g-1. Chromosomal damage was evaluated by means of the cytokinesis block micronucleus technique, which also gives information on cell cycle kinetics. Moreover, human whole blood samples exposed to 130 GHz at SAR levels of 1.4 and 2 mW g-1 were also tested for primary DNA damage by applying the alkaline comet assay immediately after exposure. The results obtained indicate that THz exposure, in the explored electromagnetic conditions, is not able to induce either genotoxicity or alteration of cell cycle kinetics in human blood cells from healthy subjects.

Invited Review Article: Current State of Research on Biological Effects of Terahertz Radiation

“…The primary disadvantages of FELs are the following: large footprint, require teams of researchers to run, and expensive to engineer, maintain, and operate. Despite these limitations, FELs provide the highest output power of any currently available THz source, and thus are frequently used for THz bioeffects studies [16,17,[138][139][140][141][142].…”

“…Study 2. In 2007, Zeni et al conducted a study within the framework of the THzBridgeprogram to examine the genotoxic effects of THz radiation [16]. For this study, they obtained human blood lymphocytes from healthy human volunteers (n=17).…”

“…For this study, they obtained human blood lymphocytes from healthy human volunteers (n=17). Samples were irradiated at room temperature (23°C) using a compact FEL laser source with the following conditions: 0.12 or 0.13 THz, 4 μs pulse duration, repetition rate of 1-10 Hz, average power of 0.6-5.0 mW, irradiance of 0.05-0.23 mWcm −2 , peak electric fields 130-193 V cm −1 , and specific absorption rates of 0.24-2 W kg −1 [16]. Primary DNA damage (single strand breaks, SSB) was assessed using alkaline comet assays, and the incidence of MN was determined using conventional cytochalasin-block techniques.…”

“…In recent years, many timely investigations have been performed to investigate the possible biological effects associated with THz radiation [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Unfortunately, however, a comprehensive review has not yet appeared in the literature which both discusses the fundamental interaction mechanisms, and also critically reviews the bioeffects studies that have been conducted to date.…”

À la frontière onde-lumière

“…Même si, à la différence des rayons X ou gamma, le rayonnement THz susceptible d'être utilisé pour l'imagerie ne semble pas présenter de caractère de dangerosité connu pour l'être humain [25], les études de toxicité des rayonnements THz sont encore rares. Doria et al [26] …”