(2020) Comparison of effects of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and mobile phone exposure on human placenta and cord blood, Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 34:1, 154-162, DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2020.1725639
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi systems and mobile phones on cord blood and placenta. The study included 149 pregnant women who were divided in subgroups: unexposed (control), mobile phone exposed, Wi-Fi exposed and mobile phone plus Wi-Fi exposed groups. Immediately after birth, placenta and cord blood samples were collected and protein carbonyl (PCO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels and DNA single strand breaks were analysed. The results of the study showed an increase in 8-OHdG, MDA, PCO and TOS in cord blood and placenta in the group exposed to mobile phones during gestation. However, the group exposed to Wi-Fi did not show alterations in the studied oxidative stress parameters. On the other hand, tail intensity and tail moment of DNA in the mobile phone exposure groups were higher than those in the control and Wi-Fi exposure groups. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that mobile phone exposure during pregnancy could have an important potential to cause oxidative stress and DNA damage in cord blood and placenta. The results of this study also indicated that combined effects of Wi-Fi plus mobile phone exposure have a higher potential to cause synergistic harmful effects.
Conclusions
In this study, the exposure of mobile phones during the gestation period was associated with increased levels of some oxidative stress parameters such as 8-OHdG, MDA, PCO, TOS and OCI) and caused DNA damage in cord blood and placenta. We did not observe that Wi-Fi alone could be as effective as the use of a mobile phone. However, we observed that Wi-Fi could contribute to the harmful effects of mobile phones when Wi-Fi is used along with a mobile phone. Further investigations on the biological effects of RFR emitted from wireless communication devices on pregnant women and foetuses may help us to better understand the pathogenesis of many diseases which have been seen in recent years in children.