Li, L., Bisht, K. S., LaGroye, I., Zhang, P., Straube, W. L., Moros, E. G. and Roti Roti, J. L. Measurement of DNA Damage in Mammalian Cells Exposed In Vitro to Radiofrequency Fields at SARs of 3–5 W/kg. Radiat. Res. 156, 328–332 (2001).

In the present study, we determined whether exposure of mammalian cells to 3.2–5.1 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) radiofrequency fields could induce DNA damage in murine C3H 10T½ fibroblasts. Cell cultures were exposed to 847.74 MHz code-division multiple access (CDMA) and 835.62 frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) modulated radiations in radial transmission line (RTL) irradiators in which the temperature was regulated to 37.0 ± 0.3°C. Using the alkaline comet assay to measure DNA damage, we found no statistically significant differences in either comet moment or comet length between sham-exposed cells and those exposed for 2, 4 or 24 h to CDMA or FDMA radiations in either exponentially growing or plateau-phase cells. Further, a 4-h incubation after the 2-h exposure resulted in no significant changes in comet moment or comet length. Our results show that exposure of cultured C3H 10T½ cells at 37°C CDMA or FDMA at SAR values of up to 5.1 W/kg did not induce measurable DNA damage.