In vitro assessment of clastogenicity of mobile‐phone radiation (835 MHz) using the alkaline comet assay and chromosomal aberration test

Recently we demonstrated that 835‐MHz radiofrequency radiation electromagnetic fields (RF‐EMF) neither affected the reverse mutation frequency nor accelerated DNA degradation in vitro. Here, two kinds of cytogenetic endpoints were further investigated on mammalian cells exposed to 835‐MHz RF‐EMF (the most widely used communication frequency band in Korean CDMA mobile phone networks) alone and in combination with model clastogens: in vitro alkaline comet assay and in vitro chromosome aberration (CA) test. No direct cytogenetic effect of 835‐MHz RF‐EMF was found in the in vitro CA test. The combined exposure of the cells to RF‐EMF in the presence of ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) revealed a weak and insignificant cytogenetic effect when compared to cells exposed to EMS alone in CA test. Also, the comet assay results to evaluate the ability of RF‐EMF alone to damage DNA were nearly negative, although showing a small increase in tail moment. However, the applied RF‐EMF had potentiation effect in comet assay when administered in combination with model clastogens (cyclophosphamide or 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide). Thus, our results imply that we cannot confidently exclude any possibility of an increased risk of genetic damage, with important implications for the possible health effects of exposure to 835‐MHz electromagnetic fields. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008.

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