DNA and RNA Effects

Scientific Literature

Updated 9/13/21

Mechanisms of radiofrequency radiation on DNA and RNA: Partial list

DNA and RNA are basic macromolecules of all living organisms that carry our individual genetic codes from one generation to the next. These fragile chains of nucleic acids not only direct our  inheritance, they also direct fetal development, metabolism, protein synthesis, immune system functioning, nervous system functioning and cancer protection.  DNA and RNA can be damaged by a number of toxic exposures leading to a broad range of serious diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disease and birth defects. We have for decades understood the mechanisms of ionizing radiation from X-Rays, nuclear power plants and atomic bombs, however, we are just now understanding the adverse effects of exposure to non-ionizing radiation from cell towers and wireless devices which can alter DNA and RNA by various mechanisms including creation of reactive oxygen species, similar to other toxins exposures (pesticides and heavy metals).

This review of  DNA repair mechanisms in dividing and non-dividing cells highlights the different pathways of injury to DNA resulting in genomic instability and then to human disease.

The National Toxicology Report (2019)  found that 2 common cell phone modulations caused DNA Damage. They state in the report, “Results of the comet assay showed significant increases in DNA damage in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). Increases in DNA damage judged to be equivocal were observed in several other tissues of rats and mice. 

See also:

• Human DNA Effects: Human DNA Effects
• RF EMR Biological Cellular Effects: RF EMR Oxidation Effects
• RF EMR Biological Cellular Effects: RF EMR Calcium Channel Effects

Reviews

1. Human‐made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced‐oscillation and voltage‐gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review).(2021)  Pangopolous DJ, et al.  International Journal of Oncology. August 23, 2021.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34617575/
2. Epigenetic dysregulation in various types of cells exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic field. Cell Tissue Research. (2021) Giorgi G and Del Re B.  2021 Jul 21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34287715/
3. Genetic effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. Henry Lai. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. Published online: 04 Feb 2021. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15368378.2021.1881866
4. Non-ionizing radiation, part 2: radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. WHO IARC.  Volume 102. 2011. https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol102/mono102.pdf
5. The Reflex Project. Risk Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards from Low Energy Electromagnetic 
Field Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro Methods. http://www.verum-foundation.com/projects/reflex.html

Published Papers

BIOLOGIC EFFECTS: DNA, RNA and Gene Expression

• Human‐made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced‐oscillation and voltage‐gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review).(2021)  Pangopolous DJ, et al.  International Journal of Oncology. August 23, 2021.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34617575/
• Genetic effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. (2021) Lai H. Electromagn Biol Med. 2021 Apr 3;40(2):264-273. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33539186/
• E. coli aggregation and impaired cell division after terahertz irradiation. (2021) Peltek S et al. Nature. Scientific Reports. Oct 4, 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-99665-3
• Effect of 900-, 1800-, and 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on DNA and oxidative stress in brain. (2019) Alkis ME et al. Electromagn Biol Med. 2019;38(1):32-47. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30669883/
• Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. (2019) Smith-Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW et al. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2019 Oct 21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31633839
• Comparing DNA damage induced by mobile telephony and other types of man-made electromagnetic fields. (2019)  Dimitri Panagopoulos. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research. March 2019. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331661949_Comparing_DNA_Damage_Induced_by_Mobile_Telephony_and_Other_Types_of_Man-Made_Electromagnetic_Fields
•  Exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic felds emistted from mobile phones induced DNA damage in human ear canal hair follicle cells. (2018) Akdag M et al. Electromagn Biol Med. 2018;37:66–75. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29667447/
• Impact of radiofrequency radiation on DNA damage and antioxidants in peripheral blood lymphocytes of humans residing in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations. (2017) Zothansiama et al. Electromagn Biol Med. 2017 Aug 4:1-11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28777669
• Exposing the G-quadruplex to electric fields: the role played by telomeres in the propagation of DNA errors. (2017) Cerón-Carrasco JP, Jacquemin D. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2017 Apr 5;19(14):9358-9365. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28317975
• Electromagnetic Fields, Pulsed Radiofrequency Radiation, and Epigenetics: How Wireless Technologies May Affect Childhood Development. (2017) Sage C. Child Dev. 2017 May 15. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.12824/abstract
• Adverse and beneficial effects in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells following radiofrequency exposure. (2017)  Sannino A, Zeni O, Romeo S, Massa R, Scarfi MR..Bioelectromagnetics. 2017 Jan 10. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.22034/abstract
• The 2100MHz radiofrequency radiation of a 3G-mobile phone and the DNA oxidative damage in brain. (2016)  Sahin D et al.  J Chem Neuroanat. 2016 Sep;75(Pt B):94-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26775761/
• Effects of 2.4 GHz radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi equipment on microRNA expression in brain tissue. (2015) Dasdag, S et al. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 91(7), 555-561. doi:10.3109/09553002.2015.1028599 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25775055
• Long- term and excessive use of 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation alter microRNA expression in brain. (2015) Dasdag, S et al. (2015a).  International Journal of Radiation Biology, 91(4), 306–11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25529971
• Comparison of the genotoxic effects induced by 50 Hz extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in GC-2 cells. (2015) Duan W et al. Radiat Res. 2015 Mar;183(3):305-14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25688995
• Tumor promotion by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below exposure limits for humans. (2015) Lerchi et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Apr 17;459(4):585-90. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X15003988
• 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase-1 inhibition sensitizes Neuro-2a cells to oxidative DNA base damage induced by 900 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. Wang,X. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2015;37(3):1075-88. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26401913
• Comparison of the genotoxic effects induced by 50 Hz extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in GC-2 cells. (2015) Duan W et al. Radiat Res. 2015 Mar;183(3):305-14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25688995/
• Exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation induces oxidative DNA base damage in a mouse spermatocyte-derived cell line. (2013)  Liu C et al.  Toxicol Lett. 2013 Mar 27;218(1):2-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23333639 
• The effect of radiofrequency radiation on DNA and lipid damage in female and male infant rabbits. (2012)  Güler G et al. Int J Radiat Biol. 2012 Apr;88(4):367-73. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22145622
• DNA electrophoretic migration patterns change after exposure of Jurkat cells to a single intense nanosecond electric pulse.  (2011) Romeo et al. PLoS ONE. 2011;6:e28419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22164287
• Effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation on the rats’ brain, liver and kidney cells measured by comet assay. (2011) Trosić I et al. Coll Antropol. 2011;35:1259–64. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22397269
• Mutagenic response of 2.45 GHz radiation exposure on rat brain. (2010)Kesari KK et al.  Int J Radiat Biol. 2010 Apr;86(4):334-43. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20353343
• Microwaves from Mobile Phones Inhibit 53BP1 Focus Formation in Human Stem Cells More Strongly Than in Differentiated Cells: Possible Mechanistic Link to Cancer Risk.(2010) Markova, Malmgren, et al. Environmental Health Perspectives 118(3):394-399 (2010). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854769/
• The influence of 1800 MHz GSM-like signals on hepatic oxidative DNA and lipid damage in non-pregnant, pregnant, and newly born rabbits. (2010) Tomruk A et al. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2010;56(1):39-47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19851891 
• Exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation induces oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA in primary cultured neurons. (2010) Xu S et al. Brain Res. 2010;1311:189–96. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19879861/
• Microwaves from UMTS/GSM mobile phones induce long-lasting inhibition of 53BP1/γ-H2AX DNA repair foci in human lymphocytes. (2009) Belyaev et al. Bioelectromagnetics. Volume 30, Issue 2, February 2009. Pages 129–141. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.20445/full
• Radiofrequency radiation and gene/protein expression: a review. (2009) McNamee and Chauhan. Radiation Research 172(3):265-287. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19708776
• Electromagnetic fields and DNA damage.(2009)    Phillips JL, Singh NP, Lai H. Pathophysiology. 2009 Aug;16(2-3):79-88. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19264461
• Evaluation of HSP70 expression and DNA damage in cells of a human trophoblast cell line exposed to 1.8 GHz amplitude-modulated radiofrequency fields. (2008) Valbonesi, Franzellotto, et al. Radiation Research 169(3):270-279. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18302482
• Genetic damage in subjects exposed to radiofrequency radiation.  (2009) Verschaeve L. Mutat Res. 2009 Mar-Jun;681(2-3):259-70. Mutat Res. 2009 Mar-Jun;681(2-3):259-70. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19073278
• Electromagnetic noise inhibits radiofrequency radiation-induced DNA damage and reactive oxygen species increase in human lens epithelial cells. (2008)  Yao K et al. Mol Vis. 2008 May 19;14:964-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18509546
• [Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on gene expression of rat neurons]. (2008) Zhang SZ et al. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2008 Aug;26(8):449-52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19358751
• Studying gene expression profile of rat neuron exposed to 1800MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields with cDNA microassay. (2007) Zhao et al. Toxicology. 2007 Jun 25;235(3):167-75. Epub 2007 Mar 19.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17449163 
• Mobile phone radiation causes changes in gene and protein expression in human endothelial cell lines and the response seems to be genome- and proteome-dependent. NYlund R, Leszczynski D et al. Proteomics. 2006 Sep;6(17):4769-80. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16878295
• Protection of peroxynitrite-induced DNA damage by dietary antioxidants. (2006) Moon HK et al. Arch Pharm Res. 2006;29:213–7. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02969396
• Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation. (2006) Paulraj R, Behari J.  Mutat Res. 2006;596:76–80. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16458332
• [Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the expression of microtubule associated protein 2 in rat neurons]. (2006) Zhao et al. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2006 Apr;24(4):222-5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16701035
• [Effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on protein expression profile of human breast cancer cell MCF-7]. (2006) Zeng QL et al. 2006. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2006 May;40(3):153-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16836875
• [Effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung cells]. Zhang DY et al. (2006)  Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2006 May;40(3):149-52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16836873
• Genetic damage in mobile phone users: Some preliminary findings. (2005) Gandhi, G. Ind J Hum Genet. 2005. 11(2): 99-104. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26416915_Genetic_damage_in_mobile_phone_users_Some_preliminary_findings
• 50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields enhance cell proliferation and DNA damage: possible involvement of a redox mechanism. (2005) Wolf F et al.  Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005 Mar 22;1743(1-2):120-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15777847/
• Proteomics analysis of human endothelial cell line EA.hy926 after exposure to GSM 900 radiation. Nylund R1, Leszczynski D. Proteomics. 2004 May;4(5):1359-65. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15188403
• Magnetic-field-induced DNA strand breaks in brain cells of the rat. Lai,H. Singh, N. Environ Health Perspect. 2004 May; 112(6): 687–694.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241963/
• Induction of DNA strand breaks by intermittent exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields in human diploid fibroblasts. Ivancsits S. Mutat Res. 2002 Aug 26;519(1-2):1-13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12160887
• Non-thermal activation of the hsp27/p38MAPK stress pathway by mobile phone radiation in human endothelial cells: molecular mechanism for cancer- and blood-brain barrier-related effects. (2002) Leszczynski D. Differentiation. 2002 May;70(2-3):120-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=12076339
• Measurement of DNA damage after exposure to 2450 MHz electromagnetic radiation. (1997)  Malyapa RS et al. Radiat Res. 1997;148:608–17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9399707
• Melatonin and a spin-trap compound block radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells. Lai H, Singh NP. Bioelectromagnetics. 1997;18:446–54. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9261542
• Single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells after acute exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. (1996) Lai H1, Singh NP. Int J Radiat Biol. 1996 Apr;69(4):513-21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8627134
• Acute low-intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells. (1995) Lai H1, Singh NP. Bioelectromagnetics. 1995;16(3):207-10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7677797

BIOLOGIC EFFECTS: DNA Epigenetic (general and RF EMR related)

• Electromagnetic Fields, Pulsed Radiofrequency Radiation, and Epigenetics: How Wireless Technologies May Affect Childhood Development. (2017) Sage C. Child Dev. 2017 May 15 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2850432425
• Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats. (2017)  Mokarram et al. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2017 Mar 1;7(1):79-86. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28451581.
• Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation Exposure, Oxidative Stress and Epigenetic Programing of Health and Disease. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam et al. April 21, 2017. Radiation Research. http://www.rrjournal.org/doi/abs/10.1667/RR14587.1?code=rrs-site&journalCode=rare
• Genome-wide methylation analysis of a large population sample shows neurological pathways involvement in chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain. (2017) Gregory Livshits et al. Pain. 2017 Jun; 158(6): 1053–1062. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5427989/
•  Integrative DNA methylome analysis of pan-cancer biomarkers in cancer discordant monozygotic twin-pairs (2016) . Roos L et al. Clin Epigenetics. 2016 Jan 20;8:7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26798410

Related Articles on DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms

• Solar UV damage to cellular DNA: from mechanisms to biological effects. (2018)  Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2018 Dec 5;17(12):1842-1852. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30065996
• DNA repair mechanisms in dividing and non-dividing cells. (2014)  DNA Repair. Iyama and Wilson. (Amst). Aug; 12(8) 620-636. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3720834/