Evaluation of genotoxicity of cell phone radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure (NTP study)

Abstract

Overview

The National Toxicology Program conducted a comprehensive study examining the genotoxic effects of cell phone radiofrequency radiation (RFR) in rodents over subchronic exposure periods. This study focused on two common RFR modulations, CDMA and GSM, as emitted by cellular phones.

Methodology

• Species: Male and female Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats and B6C3F1/N mice.
• Exposure: Animals were exposed from specific gestation or postnatal days to CDMA or GSM modulations, 18 hours daily in intervals, within reverberation chambers.
• Specific Absorption Rates (SAR): Rats were exposed to 1.5, 3, or 6 W/kg at 900 MHz and mice to 2.5, 5, or 10 W/kg at 1900 MHz.

Findings

Significant DNA damage was detected:

• In male mice's frontal cortex and in leukocytes of female mice exposed to CDMA.
• In the hippocampus of male rats exposed to CDMA.

Equivocal damages were noted in several other tissues of both rats and mice. No significant increases in micronucleated red blood cells were found.

Conclusion

The results strongly suggest that exposure to RFR is linked to an increase in DNA damage, indicating potential genotoxic effects. This substantiates concerns about the safety of exposure to emissions from cellular phones, even at non-thermal levels.