DNA Damage at “Below Safe” Cell Phone Radiation Levels

Use the tabs below to switch between:
Control (Unexposed) | X-ray Calibration (25.6 rads) | RF Exposure (2.45 GHz, 0.6 W/kg) | Video Presentation.

Control DNA
X-ray Calibration
RF/Microwave Exposure
Video Presentation
Comet assay: Control (Unexposed DNA)

Control Cell (Unexposed DNA)

This is the baseline: DNA is a compact, intact bundle with almost no “comet tail.” Under normal lab conditions, spontaneous strand breaks are rare and quickly repaired.

Key Points:
• Serves as the “zero damage” reference.
• Minimal DNA fragmentation under standard conditions.
• Any tail in other conditions is above this spontaneous background.

Comet assay: X-ray Calibration (25.6 rads)

X-ray Exposed Cell (Calibration)

Rat brain cells exposed to 25.6 rads of ionizing X-ray radiation. Notice the pronounced comet tail: a bright “head” with most of the DNA, and a long trailing “tail” of smaller fragments migrating under an electric field.

Key Points:
• Ionizing radiation (X-rays) produces both single-strand and double-strand breaks.
• This image is used as a calibration standard—comet tail length roughly correlates with X-ray dose.
• Shows classic severe DNA fragmentation from high-energy photons.

Comet assay: RF/Microwave Exposed DNA (2.45 GHz, 0.6 W/kg)

RF/Microwave Exposed Cell (2.45 GHz, 0.6 W/kg)

This image—adapted from Lai & Singh (1994–1998)—shows rat brain cells exposed for 2 hours to pulsed, modulated 2.45 GHz microwaves at SAR 0.6 W/kg. The visible comet tail proves significant DNA fragmentation—despite no measurable heating.

Key Findings (Lai & Singh):
• Non-thermal RF (well below FCC’s SAR limit) still produced statistically significant DNA breaks.
• Pulsed/modulated waveform (like GSM cell phones) is more bioactive than continuous-wave exposures.
• Nerve cells have limited repair capacity—repeated exposures can lead to cumulative damage.
• Antioxidants (e.g., melatonin) reduce—but do not fully eliminate—RF-induced ROS and DNA breaks.

YouTube Video Thumbnail

Watch the Comet Assay Presentation

Click above to play Dr. Henry Lai’s YouTube video on “Can Cell Phones Damage DNA and Cause Cancer?”

https://www.rfsafe.com/fact-dna-damage-safe-cell-phone-radiation-levels/