DNA Damage in Human Leukocytes after Acute In Vitro Exposure to a 1.9 GHz Pulse-Modulated Radiofrequency Field

McNamee JP, Bellier PV, Gajda GB, Lavallee BF, Lemay EP, Marro L, Thansandote A.

Radiat Res 158(4):534-537, 2002

Blood cultures from human volunteers were exposed to an acute 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency (RF) field for 2 h using a series of six circularly polarized, cylindrical waveguides. Mean specific absorption rates (SARs) ranged from 0 to 10 W/kg, and the temperature within the cultures during the exposure was maintained at 37.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C. DNA damage was quantified in leukocytes by the alkaline comet assay and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay.

When compared to the sham-treated controls, no evidence of increased primary DNA damage was detected by any parameter for any of the RF-field-exposed cultures when evaluated using the alkaline comet assay. Furthermore, no significant differences in the frequency of binucleated cells, incidence of micronucleated binucleated cells, or total incidence of micronuclei were detected between any of the RF-field-exposed cultures and the sham-treated control at any SAR tested.

These results do not support the hypothesis that acute, nonthermalizing 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF-field exposure causes DNA damage in cultured human leukocytes.