Immunotropic effects in cultured human blood mononuclear cells exposed to a 900 MHz pulse-modulated microwave field.

The specific biological effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) remains unknown even though devices present in our daily lives, such as smartphones and Wi-Fi antennae increase the environmental level of electromagnetic radiation. It is said that the human immune system is able to react to discrete environmental stimuli like EMF. To investigate the effect of 900 MHz microwave stimulation on the immune system our research aimed to analyze lymphocyte proliferation and observe and assess the basic immunoregulatory activities using a newly developed and improved anechoic chamber. Samples of mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from the blood of healthy donors were exposed to 900 MHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency radiation (20 V/m, SAR 0.024 W/kg) twice (15 min each) or left without irradiation (control group). Subsequently, the control and exposed cells were set up to determine several parameters characterizing T cell immunocompetence and monocyte immunogenic activity. Although the microcultures of PBMC exposed to radiofrequency radiation demonstrated higher immunogenic activity of monocytes (LM index) and T-cell response to concanavalin A than control cultures after first exposure, this parameter decreased after a second stimulation. Saturation of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor rose significantly after the second day of exposure. On the other hand, response to mitogen dropped after EMF stimulation. The results suggest that PBMC are able to overcome stress caused by mitogens after stimulation with 900 MHz radiation.

The effect of 1800MHz radio-frequency radiation on NMDA receptor subunit NR1 expression and peroxidation in the rat brain in healthy and inflammatory states.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of repeated exposure (5 times for 15min) of 1800MHz radio-frequency radiation (RFR) on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit NR1 (NMDA-NR1) expression in the brains of rats in a persistent inflammatory state. We also measured the effect of RFR combined with tramadol (TRAM) to determine the potential antioxidant capacity of this agent. METHODS: The effects of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) modulated 1800MHz RFR exposure on the expression and activity of glutamate receptor channels with antioxidative activity in brain tissue was measured using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of the hydroxyl radical generated by the Fenton reaction. NMDA-NR1 was measured in the cerebral tissue of rats with inflammation (complete Freund's adjuvent) and those injected with tramadol after RFR exposure (RFR, RFR/TRAM) and in non-exposed (baseline, TRAM) rats. RESULTS: No differences between the baseline group and the exposed group (RFR) were observed. NMDA-NR1 expression decreased after CFA injection and RFR exposure, and an elevated expression of NMDA-NR1 was observed in healthy control rats of both groups: TRAM/RFR and RFR. CONCLUSIONS: ORAC assessment revealed a robust effect of RFR, however the other experiments revealed equivocal effects. Further studies examining the combination of ORAC with NMDA are warranted to elucidate more clearly the effect of RFR on the brain.

[Risk of neoplastic diseases in conditions of exposure to radio- and microwave fields--epidemiologic investigations]. / Ryzyko chorób nowotworowych wwarunkach narazenia na pola radio- i mikrofalowe--badania epidemiologiczne.

The review presents current state of knowledge of cancer morbidity in persons exposed to radio- or microwave radiation in the environment or at working posts. The problem of cancer morbidity in persons exposed to microwaves was for many years limited to occupational medicine, but the introduction of mobile telephone system in the 1980s considerably increased the number of persons exposed to this radiation and raised concerns about cancer risks in the users of mobile phones. Cancer risks of microwaves are minor and doubtful, but there exist reliable epidemiologic investigations providing evidence that multiyear occupational exposure and intensive use of mobile phones for more than 10 years may cause the increased morbidity of certain types of neoplasms, mainly brain tumors, as well as hematopoietic and lymphatic malignancies. Neverthelesscurrent state of knowledge does not allow, according to the IARC classification, to classify radio- and microwave fields as the carcinogenic factor.

[Risk of neoplastic diseases in conditions of exposure to power magnetic fields--epidemiologic investigations]. / Ryzyko chorób nowotworowych w warunkach narazenia na pola sieciowe--badania epidemiologiczne.

The review paper presents current views on risks of incidence of neoplasms in persons exposed to power magnetic fields (PMFs) 50 Hz in the environment or at working posts. Cancer risks of power magnetic fields are small and doubtful, but there exist confirmed epidemiologic investigations that in children living in homes where PMF intensity exceeds 0.3-0.4 microT (0.24-0.32 A/m) an increased risk of certain types of leukemias can be observed. About one percent of children live under conditions of PMF exposure. Cancer morbidity in workers exposed to power magnetic fields is not unequivocally increased. Ten years ago, on the basis of available epidemiologic data, PMFs 50 Hz were listed as a possible carcinogenic agent (group 2B according to the IARC classification), which means lack of convincing evidence that PMFs pose cancer risks. The authors also discuss the binding regulations on the protection of the general population and workers against power magnetic fields and they conclude that existing permissible exposure levels are incompatible with exposure conditions, the present state of knowledge and health threats.

[Electromagnetic fields hypersensitivity]. / Nadwrazliwosc na pola elektromagnetyczne.

The development of industry, particularly of new technologies in communication systems, gives rise to the number and diversty of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources in the environment. These sources, including power-frequent, radiofrequent and microwaves, make human life richer, safer and easier. But at the same time, there is growing concern about possible health risks connected with EMF exposure. An increasing number of persons have recently reported on a variety of health problems induced, in their opinion, by exposure to EMF. It is important to note that EMF levels to which these individuals are exposed are generally well below the recommended exposure limits and are certainly far below those known to produce any adverse effects. These persons call themselves "electromagnetic hypersensitivity individuals" And complain about experiencing various types of non-specific symptoms, including dermatological, neurological and vegetative. In the present paper, the problem of electromagnetic hypersensitivity phenomenon is discussed based on the recently published literature.

[Experimental studies--possibilities and limitations in assessing bioeffects and health risk of electromagnetic fields]. / Badania doswiadczalne--mozliwosci i ograniczenia w poznaniu efektów biologicznych i ryzyka zdrowotnego pól elektromagnetycznych.

An issue of experimental studies is reviewed in view of their possibilities and limitations in assessing bioeffects and health risk of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Investigations of bioeffets and their consequences are being performed at different levels of biological organization. Experimental studies involving cellular structures and animals lead mostly to the assessment of mechanisms of EMFs interaction and to the observation of possible bioeffects. To assess health risk of exposure to EMFs it is necessary to perform strudies involving human subjects (volunteers) or epidemiological studies targeted at specific human populations. The biological material applied in experiments appears to be a specific measure of the effect exerted by EMFs on the body, but as every measure, it has its own advantages and disadvantages and the obtained results may be burden with some errors, which should be analyzed during the interpretation of experimental study results.

Immunotropic influence of 900 MHz microwave GSM signal on human blood immune cells activated in vitro.

In an earlier study we reported that G(o) phase peripheral blood mononulclear cells (PBMC) exposed to low-level (SAR = 0.18 W/kg) pulse-modulated 1300 MHz microwaves and subsequently cultured, demonstrate changed immune activity (Dabrowski et al., 2003). We investigated whether cultured immune cells induced into the active phases of cell cycle (G(1), S) and then exposed to microwaves will also be sensitive to electromagnetic field. An anechoic chamber of our design containing a microplate with cultured cells and an antenna emitting microwaves (900 MHz simulated GSM signal, 27 V/m, SAR 0.024 W/kg) was placed inside the ASSAB incubator. The microcultures of PBMC exposed to microwaves demonstrated significantly higher response to mitogens and higher immunogenic activity of monocytes (LM index) than control cultures. LM index, described in detail elsewhere (Dabrowski et al., 2001), represents the monokine influence on lymphocyte mitogenic response. The results suggest that immune activity of responding lymphocytes and monocytes can be additionally intensified by 900 MHz microwaves.

[Recent concept of protection of workers and general population against electromagnetic fields in the European countries]. / Wspólczesne koncepcje ochrony pracowników i ludnosci przed polami EM w krajach Unii Europejskiej.

In 1994, guidelines for protection against EM fields were elaborated by the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). In 1998, they were slightly modified and became the base for the 1999 recommendation of the UE Commission. The ICNIRP recommendations are based on few selected criteria, and thus provide good protection in the case of short-term exposures to EM fields, but possible effects of EM fields at intensities lower than those admissible by the ICNIPR standards raise still growing doubts. Over a couple of years, well educated and organized groups of citizens and non-governmental organizations call attention to risks of long-term exposure of humans to weak EM fields. In their reviews, the members of these groups/organizations draw attention to the need for a precautionary approach on the one hand, and postulate better protection of the general population and workers from weak EM fields on the other. The evaluation of the present situation indicates that the range of the influence of independent groups/organizations supporting the modification of ICNIPR guidelines to include the effects of low-level EM fields is steadily growing.