In vitro Effects of Low Intensity 1.8 Ghz Electromagnetic Radiation on Peripheral Blood Leukocytes from Healthy Donors: A Morphometric and Morphological Study

Aims: Until now, studies related to the morphometric and morphological variations produced on peripheral blood leukocytes from healthy donors by exposure to 1.8 GHz electromagnetic radiation (EMR) yielded controversial results. The aim of this research work is to increase the statistics regarding the above mentioned variations.

Methodology: By using a reverberation chamber, which provides a controlled EMR intensity, 108 samples of human leukocytes from healthy donors were exposed to EMR of different intensities (12±4 V/m, 22±6 V/m, 42±9 V/m and 78±10 V/m) for times ranging from 5 min to 24 h. Sham exposed blood samples of the same donors were considered as controls. Using a computerized morphometric method, microscopic observations of the area size occupied by each cell were conducted; in each case the dimensional measurements were carried out on three different samples (from different donors). Besides, morphological observations were conducted staining smeared blood samples with May-Grünwald-Giemsa.

Results: Exposed and sham exposed leukocytes average size was compared using the Statistical GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. In 18% out of 108 cases examined, no effects dependent on EMR have been revealed. On the contrary, statistically significant variations in area of exposed leukocytes in comparison to non exposed cells were observed in 82% out of 108 cases examined. In 68% out of 108 cases an increase in leukocyte areas was demonstrated along with morphological variations of cells; in 14% out of 108 the cases, a decrease in leukocyte areas was observed.

Conclusions: Even though this study needs a functional evaluation of leukocytes exposed to EMR, our results suggest that 1.8 GHz EMR is able to produce increase in the leukocyte areas as well as morphological alterations.