Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 52, No 4, December, 2013
UDK 61
ISSN 0365-4478(Printed version)
ISSN 1821-2794(Online)
 

Correspondence to:

Đinđic Boris

Institute of Pathophysiology

Faculty of Medicine

Bul. dr Zorana Djindjica 81

18000 Niš, Serbia

E-mail: boris_dj@yahoo.com

Review article                                                                                     

UDC: 575:621.39

doi:10.5633/amm.2013.0409

Cytogenetic Damages Induced by Chronic Exposure to Microwave Non-Ionizing Radiofrequency Fields

Boris Đinđić¹, Zoran Radovanović², Srđan Pešić³, Dragan Zlatanović⁴, Dušan Sokolović⁵, Nataša Đinđić⁶ and Tanja Milenković⁶

University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, Niš, Serbia¹

Institute of Radiology, Clinical Center Niš, Niš, Serbia²

University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology, Niš, Serbia³

Clinic of Rehabilitation, Clinical Center Niš, Niš, Serbia⁴

Unniversity of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, Niš, Serbia⁵

University of  Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Niš, Serbia⁶

Non-ionizing radiation has a significant and positive impact on modern society through a number of uses. There is increasing public concern regarding the health risks of radio-frequency (RF) radiation, particularly that produced by mobile phones. Concern regarding the potential risks of exposure to EMFs has led to many epidemiological investigations, but the effects of EMF exposure on human and other mammalian cells are still unclear. One of the most frequently asked questions about the effects of microwave radiation on biological systems is whether  they produce genotoxic effects and could be there a possible link with oncogenic processes. It is most difficult to get accurate and reproducible results for the studies that tell us most about the effects of EMF on humans. Based on some “weak” evidence suggesting an association between exposure to radiofrequency fields (RF) emitted from mobile phones and two types of brain cancer, glioma and acoustic neuroma, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified RF as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ in group 2B. Literature results suggest that pulsed microwaves from working environment can be the cause of genetic and cell alterations. Taken together, the increased frequency of DNA damages, increased intensity of oxydative stress and production of reactive oxygen species as well as prolonged disruption in DNA repair mechanisms could be possible mechanisms for microwave induced cytogenetic damages even at low-level electromagnetic fields. Although there were contradictory results about harmful effects of electromagnetic fields we recommend that the mobile phone should be kept as far as possible from the body during conversations and also during usual daily activities to reduce the absorption of radiation by cells. In addition, the appropriate intake of antioxidant-rich food or drugs may be helpful for preventing the genotoxic effects that could be caused by mobile phone use. Acta Medica Medianae 2013;52(4):48-52.

Key words: cytogenetic, damages, microwave, non-ionizing,  radiofrequency fields, mobile phones