Radiofrequency exposure to LTE signal does not alter cancer-related endpoints in human neuroblastoma cell model either alone, or co-exposed to menadione or Wi-Fi signal

Despite the long-term evolution (LTE) signal, also known as fourth generation (4G) technology, is the most employed and widely deployed system for telecommunications, only a few in vitro studies are devoted to assessing the biological effects related to exposure to LTE alone and in combination with other agents. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of simultaneous exposure to 4G LTE with other frequencies/signals has not been evaluated in any of these studies. In the present study we investigated the non-thermal carcinogenic effect of LTE signal under a co-exposure realistic scenario. Human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) were exposed for 3 h to 1950 MHz LTE signal, either alone or in combination with the chemical agent menadione. Moreover, the effect of simultaneous exposure to 1950 MHz, 4G LTE signal and 2450 MHz Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) signal was also evaluated to account for possible effects due to the co-existence of these frequencies/signals. A waveguide-based exposure system, well characterized from dosimetric and experimental point of view, was used, and two specific absorption rate values, 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg, were tested in all cases. Cancer-related endpoints such as reactive oxygen species formation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression were assessed in flow cytometry assays. In our experimental conditions, neither LTE exposure alone nor LTE and menadione co-exposure or multiple LTE and Wi-Fi exposure influenced the investigated cellular parameters in SH-SY5Y cells.