Mobile phone use and cancer: Does dose really matter?

The past decades have witnessed rapid evolution of telecommunication technology and wireless devices. Due to these rapid advances, cell phone usage has remarkably increased the level of human exposure to radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). In the past, it was widely believed that, RF-EMF, in contrast to ionizing radiation, does not have enough energy for ionizing atoms and hence does not cause DNA damage which can lead to cancer. However, substantial evidence now indicates that RF-EMFs increase the reactive oxygen species production and DNA damages which play an important role in the initiation and progression of cancer. Currently, there is no widely accepted answer to this question whether there is a relationship between exposure to RF-EMFs from cell phones and cancer incidence and mortality. Although it seems that this issue is a long-term unsolved problem, new studies have raised new concerns over the safety of mobile phones. Mortazavi have previously studied the health effects of cellular phones, mobile base stations, and Wi-Fi. They have also reviewed reports claiming no link between exposure to RF and brain cancer. They found that in many cases there were large errors and/or major shortcomings in these articles. They have also reported that current controversies may be caused by the key parameter of the large difference in the magnitude of exposures to RF-EMFs in different studies. In this light, in a similar pattern with ionizing radiation, a nonlinear J-shaped dose–response relationship for the carcinogenesis of nonionizing RF-EMF is introduced

Phytocomponents of argyreia speciosa (Linn. f.) confer radioprotection

Argyreia speciosa (Linn. f.) is a reputed indigenous medicinal plant which possesses various pharmacological properties. The alcoholic root extracts of A. speciosa contains several bioactive compounds including flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol), coumarins (scopoletin), alkaloid (ergoline), saponins, tannins that have potent free radical scavenging activity and role in cell function modulation in disease conditions. The present review is an attempt to provide an insight of anticancer properties of A. speciosa. It is suggested that extract may have the potential to act as an effective radioprotector to normal cells in cancer radiotherapy

Recent advances in radiation research for human health and environment

The 1st International Conference on Radiation Research: Impact on Human Health and Environment (2016) and First Biennial Meeting of Society for Radiation Research was organized at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai (India). Recent developments in molecular, translational, and clinical radiobiology were discussed among basic and translational scientists as well as clinicians. The meeting has covered the topics ranging from the most recent insight into the paradigm shift from DNA-based radiation health effects (epigenetics), radiation biology from laboratory clinic, radiobiologically relevant redox metabolism, hypoxia, stem cell biology, hyperthermia to advances in dose deposition, and understanding the molecular biological effects of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation. Mechanism of radiobiological effects of actinides, and the search for novel radiosensitizers, radiation countermeasures, and efficient actinide decorporation agents were discussed for further improvement in cancer radiotherapy, radiation protection, and medical management of internal contamination in humans. This report summarizes the key points of recent observations/results presented in the meeting, and highlights their importance in view of human health and environment. This document would also help in understanding the significance of synergistic interaction among radiation researchers, scientists, clinicians, medical physicists, and radiation environmentalists for harnessing the real potential of radiation/radioactivity for better care of human health and environment