Human skin cell stress response to GSM‐900 mobile phone signals

Abstract

In recent years, possible health hazards due to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by mobile phones have been investigated. Because several publications have suggested that RFR is stressful, we explored the potential biological effects of Global System for Mobile phone communication at 900 MHz (GSM-900) exposure on cultures of isolated human skin cells and human reconstructed epidermis (hRE) using human keratinocytes. As cell stress markers, we studied Hsc70, Hsp27 and Hsp70 heat shock protein (HSP) expression and epidermis thickness, as well as cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cells were exposed to GSM-900 under optimal culture conditions, for 48 h, using a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2 W x kg(-1). This SAR level represents the recommended limit for local exposure to a mobile phone. The various biological parameters were analysed immediately after exposure. Apoptosis was not induced in isolated cells and there was no alteration in hRE thickness or proliferation. No change in HSP expression was observed in isolated keratinocytes. By contrast, a slight but significant increase in Hsp70 expression was observed in hREs after 3 and 5 weeks of culture. Moreover, fibroblasts showed a significant decrease in Hsc70, depending on the culture conditions. These results suggest that adaptive cell behaviour in response to RFR exposure, depending on the cell type and culture conditions, is unlikely to have deleterious effects at the skin level.

Microwaves from Mobile Phones Inhibit 53BP1 Focus Formation in Human Stem Cells More Strongly Than in Differentiated Cells: Possible Mechanistic Link to Cancer Risk

“…Moreover, we show here that fibroblasts are able to adapt to MWs during chronic exposure. These results are consistent with the suggestion that adaptive cell behavior in response to MW exposure is unlikely to have adverse effects at the skin level (Sanchez et al 2006). However, we saw no adaptation in MSCs.…”

“…We used these cell types for two main reasons. First, the emerging data show that effects of low-intensity MWs are cell-type dependent (Sanchez et al 2006; Schwarz et al 2008). In particular, immortalized and primary cells may respond differently to MWs.…”

First‐trimester use of paroxetine and congenital heart defects: A population‐based case‐control study

“…Paradoxical results are frequently encountered concerning skin effects of HF EMF. For example, a recent work based on reconstructed human epidermis showed no evidence that HF EMF (900 MHz, 2 W/kg SAR, emitted by a wire‐patch antenna) could generate deleterious effects in skin in terms of heat shock protein expression [Sanchez et al, 2006]. Similar negative results have been obtained on rat skin with up to 5 W/kg SAR values [Sanchez et al, 2008].…”

Human keratinocytes in culture exhibit no response when exposed to short duration, low amplitude, high frequency (900 MHz) electromagnetic fields in a reverberation chamber

“…For example, a recent work based on reconstructed human epidermis showed no evidence that HF EMF (900 MHz, 2 W/kg SAR, emitted by a wire-patch antenna) could generate deleterious effects in skin in terms of heat shock protein expression [Sanchez et al, 2006]. Similar negative results have been obtained on rat skin with up to 5 W/kg SAR values [Sanchez et al, 2008].…”