Abstract
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.