Effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on chromosomal aberrations in murine m5S cells

Komatsubara Y, Hirose H, Sakurai T, Koyama S, Suzuki Y, Taki M, Miyakoshi J.

Mutat Res. 587(1-2):114-119, 2005

To investigate the induction of chromosomal aberrations in mouse m5S cells after exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (HFEMFs) at 2.45GHz, cells were exposed for 2h at average specific absorption rates (SARs) of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100W/kg with continuous wave-form (CW), or at a mean SAR of 100W/kg (with a maximum of 900W/kg) with pulse wave-form (PW).

The effects of HFEMF exposure were compared with those in sham-exposed controls and with mitomycin C (MMC) or X-ray treatment as positive controls. We examined all structural, chromatid-type and chromosome-type changes after HFEMF exposures and treatments with MMC and X-rays.

No significant differences were observed following exposure to HF-EMFs at SARs from 5 to 100W/kg CW and at a mean SAR of 100W/kg PW (a maximum SAR of 900W/kg) compared with sham-exposed controls, whereas treatments with MMC and X-rays increased the frequency of chromatid-type and chromosome-type aberrations. In summary, HF-EMF exposures at 2.45GHz for 2h with up to 100W/kg SAR CW and an average 100W/kg PW (a maximum SAR of 900W/kg) do not induce chromosomal aberrations in m5S cells. Furthermore, there was no difference between exposures to CW and PW HFEMFs.