Comments on "Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes" by Schwarz et al. (Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2008: doi: 10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5).

BACKGROUND

A recent publication by Schwarz et al. describes the effects of exposure of human fibroblast and lymphocytes to radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields at frequencies used for communication with mobile phones. Even at very low specific absorption rates of 0.05 W/kg, thus well below internationally accepted exposure limits, significant effects were seen in fibroblasts whose DNA molecules were damaged as assessed by their comet tail factor (CTF) in the comet assay.

AREAS OF CONCERN

The CTF mean values and the standard deviations of the replicates revealed very low coefficients of variation, ranging from 1.2 to 4.9% (average 2.9%), which are in contrast to much higher variations reported by others. Moreover, inter-individual differences of the CTF values strongly disagree with the previously published data from the same group of researchers.

CONCLUSION

The critical analysis of the data given in the figures and the tables furthermore reveal peculiar miscalculations and statistical oddities which give rise to concern about the origin of the reported data.