Effects of mobile phone prolonged radiation on kidney cells; an in-vitro study

Introduction: Mobile phones have been shown to have hazardous effects on the human renal system, reproduction and development, central nervous system and immune function. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether the mobile phone prolonged radiofrequency (RF) radiation could affect healthy kidney cells in an in-vitro study. Materials and Methods: Human kidney healthy cells in three groups were placed into three batches. The first and second groups (exposed groups) were exposed to a mobile phone simulator for 1 and 2 h/d, respectively. The irradiation was performed for 8 consecutive days. For the third group (control group), no radiation was applied to the samples and they completed the assay cycle under identical conditions. Cells’ survival was evaluated using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol–2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. Statistical significance of the differences between control and exposed groups were assessed using the repeated measure ANOVA method (P < 0.05). Results: Results showed that radiation exposure from mobile phones simulator decreased the kidney cell survival in the exposed groups (up to 40%). ANOVA test revealed that a significant decrease in cell survival in the exposed group compared to the control group (P = 0.014). No significant differences between the irradiated groups were found (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Mobile phone exposure affects kidney cells survival during an in vitro condition. To study the effects of mobile phone radiation on kidney, further in vivo studies on mammalians are needed.