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Cancer & Tumors

Lymphoma development in mice chronically exposed to UMTS-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

No Effects Found

Sommer AM, Bitz AK, Streckert J, Hansen VW, Lerchl A · 2007

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Mice exposed to 3G radiation 24/7 showed no increased lymphoma risk, but single studies don't settle EMF cancer debates.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

German researchers exposed 320 mice to 3G (UMTS) cell phone signals 24 hours a day for their entire lives to see if the radiation would increase lymphoma rates. The mice were genetically predisposed to develop this blood cancer, making them ideal test subjects. After monitoring the animals for 43 weeks, researchers found no difference in cancer rates, survival times, or disease severity between exposed and unexposed groups.

Why This Matters

This study represents one of the more comprehensive long-term animal studies examining 3G radiation and cancer risk. The researchers used AKR/J mice, which naturally develop lymphoma at high rates, making them sensitive indicators of cancer-promoting effects. The 0.4 W/kg exposure level is roughly equivalent to what your head might absorb during extended cell phone use. While this study found no cancer-promoting effects, it's worth noting that it examined only one type of cancer in one animal model. The science demonstrates that individual studies rarely provide definitive answers about EMF health effects. What this means for you is that while this particular study is reassuring, the broader body of research on EMF and cancer remains mixed, with some studies showing increased risks and others, like this one, showing none.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.4 W/kg
Exposure Duration
24 h per day, 7 days per week

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 4 times higher than this level

Study Details

There are public concerns regarding possible carcinogenic or cancer-promoting effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from mobile phones and base stations. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether chronic exposure to EMFs of the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) influences the development of lymphoma in a lymphoma animal model, the AKR/J mouse.

Unrestrained mice were chronically sham-exposed (n = 160) or exposed (n = 160) in identical exposure...

Cage control animals had a significantly lower growth rate than those kept in the radial waveguides....

Therefore, the data show no negative effects from exposure and corroborate earlier findings in AKR/J mice exposed to GSM EMF (Sommer et al., BMC Cancer 4, 77-90, 2004).

Cite This Study
Sommer AM, Bitz AK, Streckert J, Hansen VW, Lerchl A (2007). Lymphoma development in mice chronically exposed to UMTS-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Radiat Res. 168(1):72-80, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{am_2007_lymphoma_development_in_mice_3411,
  author = {Sommer AM and Bitz AK and Streckert J and Hansen VW and Lerchl A},
  title = {Lymphoma development in mice chronically exposed to UMTS-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.},
  year = {2007},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17723000/},
}
PubMed: 17723000

Cited By (61 papers)

View all 61 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2007 German study found no increased lymphoma risk from 3G radiation. Researchers exposed 320 genetically susceptible mice to UMTS signals 24/7 for their entire lives and found no difference in cancer rates, survival times, or disease severity compared to unexposed mice.
Research shows UMTS radiation doesn't increase blood cancer development. In a comprehensive lifetime study, mice exposed continuously to 3G cell phone signals showed identical lymphoma rates to unexposed animals, with no differences in cancer progression or survival.
This study found no evidence that 3G radiation worsens cancer outcomes. Even in mice genetically predisposed to lymphoma, continuous UMTS exposure didn't increase cancer rates, accelerate disease progression, or reduce survival times compared to controls.
A long-term animal study found no lymphoma risks from continuous 3G tower radiation exposure. Researchers monitored mice for 43 weeks under 24-hour UMTS exposure and detected no increased cancer rates or accelerated disease development.
German research indicates 3G radiation doesn't impact immune system cancer development. Mice continuously exposed to UMTS signals throughout their lives showed no increased lymphoma incidence, suggesting minimal impact on blood and immune system malignancies.