Cell phone radiation effects on cytogenetic abnormalities of oral mucosal cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to cell phone electromagnetic radiation on the frequency of micronuclei, broken eggs cells, binucleated cells, and karyorrhexis in epithelial cells of the oral mucosa. The sample was composed of 60 cell phone users, who were non-smokers and non-drinkers, and had no clinically visible oral lesions. Cells were obtained from anatomical sites with the highest incidence of oral cancer: lower lip, border of the tongue, and floor of the mouth. The Feulgen reaction was used for quantification of nuclear anomalies in 1,000 cells/slide. A slightly increase in the number of micronucleated cells in the lower lip and in binucleated cells on the floor of the mouth was observed in individuals who used their phones > 60 minutes/week. The analysis also revealed an increased number of broken eggs in the tongue of individuals owning a cell phone for over eight years. Results suggest that exposure to electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones can increase nuclear abnormalities in individuals who use a cell phone for more than 60 minutes per week and for over eight years. Based on the present findings, we suggest that exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell phones may interfere with the development of metanuclear anomalies. Therefore, it is demonstrated that, despite a significant increase in these anomalies, the radiation emitted by cell phones among frequent users is within acceptable physiological limits.

本研究旨在探究手机电磁辐射暴露对口腔黏膜上皮细胞中微核（micronuclei）、破核细胞（broken eggs cells）、双核细胞（binucleated cells）及核固缩（karyorrhexis）发生频率的影响。本研究纳入60名手机使用者作为受试对象，所有受试者均无吸烟、饮酒史，且未出现临床可见的口腔病变。样本细胞采集自口腔癌发病率最高的三个解剖部位：下唇、舌缘及口底。采用Feulgen反应（Feulgen reaction）对每张玻片的1000个细胞进行核异常量化计数。结果显示，每周使用手机时长超过60分钟的受试者，其下唇部位的微核细胞数量及口底部位的双核细胞数量均出现轻度升高；使用手机时长超过8年的受试者，其舌部的破核细胞数量亦有所增加。研究结果表明，每周使用手机超过60分钟且使用时长超过8年的人群，其体内核异常发生率会因手机电磁辐射暴露而升高。基于本研究结果，我们推测手机电磁辐射暴露可能会干扰核后异常（metanuclear anomalies）的发生进程。综上，尽管高频使用手机的人群中上述异常发生率存在显著升高，但手机释放的电磁辐射仍处于可接受的生理安全阈值范围内。