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11. Consequence of low melatonin:
Dr. Lai and co-workers at University of Washington, Seattle have worked extensively on the induction of DNA damage in rat brain cells and tissue [ref. 12, 12g, 12h]. This research has shown that ELF as well as
RF/MW exposures cause a significant increase in the amount of DNA breakage in rat brain cells. This research has been confirmed by other researchers, [ref. 23], [ref. 24], [ref. 10].
Dr Lai writes: most cells have a considerable ability to repair DNA strand breaks; however, some cells only have a limited ability to handle this, such as brain and nerve cells which therefore could accumulate DNA breaks. Cumulative DNA breaks may affect cell function and may be the cause of slow onset diseases such as cancer. One of the popular hypothesis for cancer development is that DNA damaging agents induce mutations in DNA leading to expression of certain genes and suppression of other genes resulting in uncontrolled cell growth. Thus, damage to cellular DNA or lack of its repair could be an initial event in developing a tumor. However, when too much DNA damage is accumulated over time, the cell will die. Cumulative damage in DNA in cells also has been shown during aging. Particularly, cumulative DNA damage in nerve cells of the brain has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Dr. Lai reported that the EMF induced DNA breaks could be blocked by treating the rats with
melatonin.
Dr. Cherry [ref. 13] has summarized a number of studies associating EMF exposures with chromosomal damage. The Wireless Technology Research
(WTR), an industry support research group, reported that cellular phone radiation can triple the number of chromosomal abnormalities in human blood (Microwave News, March-April 1999). The chairman of
WTR, Dr. George Carlo told Microwave News that "WTR has found links between cellular phone use and cancer" [ref. 25].
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