Exposure to hexavalent chromium and 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation can synergistically induce intracellular DNA damage in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) are widely present in the modern environment and have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). However, their potential role as co-carcinogens remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate whether 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure can modulate chemically induced DNA damage. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were exposed to RF-EMF alone or in combination with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), cadmium (Cd 2+ ), or hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. RF-EMF exposure was performed using a waveguide system under standardized, non-thermal conditions, and DNA damage was assessed using the alkaline comet assay. RF-EMF exposure alone did not induce detectable DNA damage, nor did it significantly enhance DNA damage caused by H 2 O 2 , 4NQO, or Cd 2+ . In contrast, co-exposure to RF-EMF and Cr(VI) resulted in a significant synergistic increase in DNA damage in MEF cells. These findings suggest that RF-EMF may selectively exacerbate Cr(VI)-induced genotoxicity, highlighting the need for further investigation into the underlying co-toxic mechanisms.