Physicians for Safe Technology

Wireless Technology and Public Health

Mitochondrial Effects and RFR

Update 3/2/19

Scientific Literature

Mitochondria are Our Cellular Energy Producers

Mitochondria are small cell structures that are outside of the nucleus of a cell that are the essential energy producing cellular component and considered the power plants of cells. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are derived from maternal cells only as the paternal DNA from sperm are abolished after the egg is fertilized . Mitochondria are found in every organism with cells that contain a nucleus.  Mitochondria are found in mammals, fish, trees, plants, insects but not in viruses or bacteria.  The origin of mtDNA is thought to be from ancient bacterial ancestors and is now incorporated as a separate unit in all living cells.

Mitochondria are Complex and Vulnerable to Harm from Toxins

The structure of these round or oval shaped mitochondria is complex with a double cell membrane with multiple infoldings of the inner membrane that have many critical cellular functions.  Not only do they convert energy from nutrients (sugars, proteins, fats)  to ATP, the universal cellular energy unit, they also function in an important regulatory manner,  signaling programmed cell death,  steroid hormone biosynthesis, calcium, copper, and iron homeostasis, and they indirectly affect cell replication. About 1000 to 1500  proteins are imported into the mitochondria to carry out these functions thus mitochondria in different organ cells have different levels of these proteins.  Mitochondria have their own DNA and replicate within the cell. The DNA in mitochondria, however, are not protected by the nucleus and do not have their own DNA repair mechanisms thus are more vulnerable to DNA damage through a variety of toxicants.

Oxidation is a Primary Mechanism of Harm to Mitochondria

Numerous studies have shown that excess creation of reactive oxygen species causes oxidation and destruction of cell structures. Oxidation is a primary cause of injury due to toxic chemicals and scientific research is also demonstrating that non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation such as from wireless devices and cell towers causes cellular damage mediated through oxidation.

UCSD Professer of Medicine, Dr. Beatrice Golomb,  has written a seminal and comprehensive paper called “Oxidative Stress and mitochondrial injury in chronic Multisystem Conditions :From Gulf War Illness to Autism Spectrum Disorder.”  She notes,

“Chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMI), including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity and Gulf War illness (GWI), show strong overlap1-4. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), despite little cooccurrence with GWI (due to military self-selection and selection), encompasses multisymptom subsets bearing muscle, gastrointestinal, sleep and other symptoms germane to CMI. These are suggested to reflect a condition arising from similar mechanisms in a different developmental milieu….

Chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMI), including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity and Gulf War illness (GWI), show strong overlap1-4. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), despite little cooccurrence with GWI (due to military self-selection and selection), encompasses multisymptom subsets bearing muscle, gastrointestinal, sleep and other symptoms germane to CMI. These are suggested to reflect a condition arising from similar mechanisms in a different developmental milieu.”

Oxidative Stress and mitochondrial injury in chronic Multisystem Conditions :From Gulf War Illness to Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Dr. Beatrice Golomb 2012

See research below.

Mutations in Mitochondrial DNA are Inherited

Mutations can occur that can be inherited by the next generation. Mitochondrial mutations are thought to be related to aging, cancer and neurodegenerative disease. 

Mitochondrial Effects Research

 

Compilations

 

Newest Articles

  • Role of Mitochondria in the Oxidative Stress Induced by Electromagnetic Fields: Focus on Reproductive Systems. (2018) Santini SJ et al. . Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Nov 8;2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30533171

Published Scientific Literature

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