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DNA & Genetic Damage

Human Fibroblasts and 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation: Evaluation of DNA Damage after Exposure and Co-exposure to 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-Hydroxy-2(5h)-furanone (MX).

No Effects Found

Sannino A, Di Costanzo G, Brescia F, Sarti M, Zeni O, Juutilainen J, Scarfì MR · 2009

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Cell phone-level RF radiation showed no DNA damage in human cells, even in genetically vulnerable individuals.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human skin cells to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used by GSM cell phones) for 24 hours at power levels similar to phone use. They found no DNA damage from the RF radiation alone, and the radiation did not make cells more vulnerable to damage from a known cancer-causing chemical. This suggests that cell phone-level RF exposure may not directly break DNA strands in human cells.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz Duration: 24h

Study Details

The aim of this study was to investigate DNA damage in human dermal fibroblasts from a healthy subject and from a subject affected by Turner's syndrome that were exposed for 24 h to radiofrequency (RF) radiation at 900 MHz.

The RF-radiation exposure was carried out alone or in combination with 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5...

The results revealed no genotoxic and cytotoxic effects from RF radiation alone in either cell line....

Cite This Study
Sannino A, Di Costanzo G, Brescia F, Sarti M, Zeni O, Juutilainen J, Scarfì MR (2009). Human Fibroblasts and 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation: Evaluation of DNA Damage after Exposure and Co-exposure to 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-Hydroxy-2(5h)-furanone (MX). Radiat Res. 171(6):743-751, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2009_human_fibroblasts_and_900_3362,
  author = {Sannino A and Di Costanzo G and Brescia F and Sarti M and Zeni O and Juutilainen J and Scarfì MR},
  title = {Human Fibroblasts and 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation: Evaluation of DNA Damage after Exposure and Co-exposure to 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-Hydroxy-2(5h)-furanone (MX).},
  year = {2009},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19580481/},
}
PubMed: 19580481

Cited By (29 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2009 study found that 24-hour exposure to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation at cell phone power levels caused no DNA damage to human fibroblast skin cells. The research specifically tested GSM phone frequencies and found no genotoxic or cytotoxic effects from the RF radiation alone.
Research testing 900 MHz radiation alongside a known cancer-causing chemical (MX) found no enhancement of chemical-induced DNA damage. The study showed that cell phone-level RF exposure did not make human skin cells more susceptible to damage from toxic substances.
Human fibroblast cells exposed to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation for 24 continuous hours showed no DNA strand breaks or cellular damage. Researchers used comet assay testing to measure DNA migration and found no significant genotoxic effects from prolonged RF exposure.
Laboratory testing of 900 MHz GSM frequencies on human skin cells revealed no DNA strand breaks or cellular toxicity. The 2009 study used power levels similar to actual phone use and found no genotoxic effects after extended exposure periods.
Research on human fibroblast skin cells found 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation caused no DNA damage or cellular toxicity at phone-typical power levels. The study suggests GSM phone frequencies may not directly harm these types of human cells under laboratory conditions.