Detecting the non-ionizing radiation induced genotoxicity by the Comet assay method
Résumé
Non-ionizing radiation is the term given to radiation in the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that doesn’t have enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules directly. It includes electric and magnetic fields up to 300 GHz, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet radiation (UV). People are exposed to non-ionizing radiation by several man-made sources every day. This includes microwave ovens, cell phones, baby monitors, cordless phones, garage-door openers, etc. There is a big concern amongst the public and authorities regarding possible adverse health effects from exposure to electromagnetic fields. In 2002 the IARC concluded that extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF) are possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B). The same conclusion was reached in 2011 with respect to radiofrequency fields (RF) from mobile phones. UV radiation has been classified by IARC as Group I: carcinogenic to humans. In many cases and studies the link has been established between genotoxicity and the possibility that non-ionizing radiations including EMFs are carcinogenic. In our laboratory we use comet assay for testing genotoxicity of non-ionizing radiation for more than ten years. In experiments we use whole blood samples (human or dog), cell lines (e.g. fibroblast, H295R cell line) or 3 dimensional skin tissue (epidermis) models. In our protocol alkaline Comet assay method is used. On our poster there will be presented brief summary of our experiments with different types of radiation (ELF, RF, intermediate frequency and UV). Part of this work was done in the SKIN-RF project funded by ANSES (France).