Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells after acute exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation

We investigated the effects of acute (2-h) exposure to pulsed (2-mu s pulse width, 500 pulses s(-1)) and continuous-wave 2450-MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA strand breaks in brain cells of rat. The spatial averaged power density of the radiation was 2 mW/cm(2), which produced a whole-body average-specific absorption rate of 1.2 W/kg. Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in individual brain cells were measured at 4 h post-exposure using a microgel electrophoresis assay. An increase in both types of DNA strand breaks was observed after exposure to either the pulsed or continuous-wave radiation. No significant difference was observed between the effects of the two forms of radiation. We speculate that these effects could result from a direct effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy on DNA molecules and/or impairment of DNA-damage repair mechanisms in brain cells. Our data further support the results of earlier in vitro and in vivo studies showing effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA.