Micronuclei in Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow Cells of Mice Exposed to 42 GHz Electromagnetic Millimeter Waves

Abstract

The genotoxic potential of 42.2 +/- 0.2 GHz electromagnetic millimeter-wave radiation was investigated in adult male BALB/c mice. The radiation was applied to the nasal region of the mice for 30 min/day for 3 consecutive days. The incident power density used was 31.5 +/- 5.0 mW/cm2. The peak specific absorption rate was calculated as 622 +/- 100 W/kg. Groups of mice that were injected with cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg body weight), a drug used in the treatment of human malignancies, were also included to determine if millimeter-wave radiation exposure had any influence on drug-induced genotoxicity. Concurrent sham-exposed and untreated mice were used as controls. The extent of genotoxicity was assessed from the incidence of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes of peripheral blood and bone marrow cells collected 24 h after treatment. The results indicated that the incidence of micronuclei in 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes was not significantly different among untreated, millimeter wave-exposed, and sham-exposed mice. The group mean incidences were 6.0 +/- 1.6, 5.1 +/- 1.5 and 5.1 +/- 1.3 in peripheral blood and 9.1 +/- 1.1, 9.3 +/- 1.6 and 9.1 +/- 1.6 in bone marrow cells, respectively. Mice that were injected with cyclophosphamide exhibited significantly increased numbers of micronuclei, 14.6 +/- 2.7 in peripheral blood and 21.3 +/- 3.9 in bone marrow cells (P< 0.0001). The drug-induced micronuclei were not significantly different in millimeter wave-exposed and sham-exposed mice; the mean incidences were 14.3 +/- 2.8 and 15.4 +/- 3.0 in peripheral blood and 23.5 +/- 2.3 and 22.1 +/- 2.5 in bone marrow cells, respectively. Thus there was no evidence for the induction of genotoxicity in the peripheral blood and bone marrow cells of mice exposed to electromagnetic millimeter-wave radiation. Also, millimeter-wave radiation exposure did not influence cyclophosphamide-induced micronuclei in either type of cells.

Effects of Long-Term Exposure to 60 GHz Millimeter-Wavelength Radiation on the Genotoxicity and Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) Expression of Cells Derived from Human Eye

“…Vijayalaxmi et al [27] reported that genotoxicity tests provided no evidence for the induction of MN formation in murine peripheral blood and bone marrow cells exposed to 42 GHz electromagnetic millimeter-wavelength radiation, consistent with our data. Taken together, most studies to date have shown no effect of exposure to millimeter-wavelength radiation, although a few studies have shown effects.…”

Millimeter Wave Radiations Affect Membrane Hydration in Phosphatidylcholine Vesicles

“…Furthermore, it was also shown that these radiations can induce a reversible externalization of phosphatidylserine molecules in cells exposed in vitro , thereby affecting the structural state of phospholipids in biomembranes [10]. In contrast to these results, exposure performed at 42 GHz and 60 GHz did not result in any significant genotoxic effect or evidence of cellular stress [11,12,13]. For a detailed overview on the topic we refer readers to the recent review by Zhadobov et al [5].…”

Safe for Generations to Come: Considerations of Safety for Millimeter Waves in Wireless Communications

“…The study of gene expression enables us to understand how cells sense and react to mmWave radiation. Logani et al [92] published results of the genotoxic potential of 42.2 ± 0.2-GHz mmWave radiation on adult male mice. This investigation aimed to determine the genotoxic potential (e.g., a potential cause of cancer) of mmWaves that might induce genetic damage since such damage is often related to carcinogenesis.…”

“…This investigation aimed to determine the genotoxic potential (e.g., a potential cause of cancer) of mmWaves that might induce genetic damage since such damage is often related to carcinogenesis. The incident PD used in [92] was 31.5 ± 5.0 mW/cm 2 with a peak SAR of 622 ± 100 W/kg (several times greater than those reported in [63] for a 60-GHz transmitter with a directional patch antenna). Logani et al [92] concluded that mmWaves are not genotoxic, which is perhaps not surprising due to the nonionizing nature of the mmWave band.…”

“…The incident PD used in [92] was 31.5 ± 5.0 mW/cm 2 with a peak SAR of 622 ± 100 W/kg (several times greater than those reported in [63] for a 60-GHz transmitter with a directional patch antenna). Logani et al [92] concluded that mmWaves are not genotoxic, which is perhaps not surprising due to the nonionizing nature of the mmWave band. Quément et al [93] reported a thorough study showing that mmWave exposure at 60.4 GHz with an average incident power of 1.8 mW/cm 2 and an average SAR of 42.4 W/kg did not have any dramatic impact on primary human keratinocyte cells.…”