COMBINED EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT NON-IONISING RADIATIONS ON THE HUMAN SKIN IN VITRO
Szilágyi Zsófia
Theoretical and Translational Medicine Division
Dr. Kellermayer Miklós
2025-10-30 15:00:00
Celluláris és molekuláris biofizika
Dr. Thuróczy György
Dr. Persa Eszter
Dr. Mártonfalvi Zsolt
Dr. Sebestyén Anna
Dr. Kaposi András
Dr. Varga Péter János
The wireless communication technology has made the life convenient and efficient for humans. Nevertheless, we are continuously exposed to EMFs, which raises questions about their possible biological and health effects. Therefore, there is a public concern regarding the potential for adverse human health effects. This thesis was aimed to investigate whether non-ionising radiation alone or in combination with other radiation can affect human skin.
The first part of the thesis aimed to investigate whether two physical agents, the RF exposure and UV radiation – both classified by the IARC – in combination have any effect on the inflammation of human skin. We found that 4 W/kg 1950 MHz UMTS exposure significantly decreased MMP-1 concentration pre-induced by 2 SED of UV radiation. A slight (insignificant) tendency for additive effect was measured in IL-1α concentration via both UMTS and Wi-Fi frequencies. Furthermore, we detected the adaptive response phenomenon, when the protective effect of 1.5 W/kg 1950 MHz UMTS exposure significantly decreased IL-1α and IL-8 concentrations followed by 4 SED of UV radiation.
The second part of the thesis aimed to investigate whether IF MF in itself could affect the DNA integrity and whether it could possibly induce a protective effect against ionising radiation by the adaptive response phenomenon. Overall, we could detect a decreased number of micronucleus formations in 22 kHz exposed fibroblast cells, although we found increased oxidative stress upon 24 hours of 250 kHz IF MF exposure alone. Furthermore, we could not observe an IF MF-induced adaptive response or co-genotoxic effect on ionising irradiated fibroblast cells. Based on our controversial result, these findings should be interpreted with caution and further studies are needed.
Overall, this thesis provides no evidence of significant impact of EMF, especially for UMTS, Wi-Fi RF or IF MF exposure in the skin. Based on our studies, we assume that EMF radiation does not cause direct DNA damage but might induce cellular and molecular changes in skin cells.
