[Effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung cells.]
Zhang DY, Xu ZP, Chiang H, Lu DQ, Zeng QL. · 2006
View Original AbstractCell phone frequency radiation caused DNA damage in lab cells after 24 hours at power levels similar to wireless devices.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed hamster lung cells to 1800 MHz radiation from GSM cell phones for 1 or 24 hours. Twenty-four hour exposure significantly increased DNA damage in 37.9% of cells versus 28.0% in unexposed cells, showing duration matters for cellular harm.
Why This Matters
This study adds to the growing body of evidence that radiofrequency radiation can cause DNA damage in living cells, particularly with longer exposure durations. The 3.0 W/kg exposure level used here is higher than typical cell phone SAR limits (which range from 1.6-2.0 W/kg), but it's within the range that could occur during prolonged close contact with wireless devices. What makes this research particularly relevant is that it used the exact frequency employed by GSM cell phone networks worldwide. The finding that DNA damage only appeared after 24 hours of exposure suggests that cumulative exposure time may be a critical factor in EMF health effects. This aligns with other research showing that biological effects often depend not just on power levels, but on duration and frequency of exposure. The science demonstrates that our cells can be affected by the same radiation our phones emit, especially during extended exposure periods.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 3 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1800 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 1 hour or 24 hours
Exposure Context
This study used 3 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 7.5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To study the effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells.
The cells were intermittently exposed or sham-exposed to GSM 1800 MHz RF EMF (5 minutes on/10 minute...
The percentage of gammaH2AX foci positive cell of 1800 MHz RF EMF exposure for 24 hours (37.9 +/- 8....
1800 MHz RF EMF (SAR, 3.0 W/kg) for 24 hours might induce DNA damage in CHL cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{dy_2006_effects_of_gsm_1800_1461,
author = {Zhang DY and Xu ZP and Chiang H and Lu DQ and Zeng QL.},
title = {[Effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung cells.]},
year = {2006},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16836873/},
}