The genotoxic effect of radiofrequency waves on mouse brain.
Karaca E, Durmaz B, Aktug H, Yildiz T, Guducu C, Irgi M, Koksal MG, Ozkinay F, Gunduz C, Cogulu O. · 2012
View Original AbstractBrain cells exposed to cell phone-level RF radiation showed 11-fold increase in DNA damage markers.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mouse brain cells to radiofrequency radiation at 10.7 GHz (similar to cell phone frequencies) and found dramatic genetic damage. The radiation caused an 11-fold increase in micronuclei formation, which indicates DNA breaks and chromosomal damage, while also altering genes involved in cell death and survival. This laboratory study demonstrates that RF radiation at levels comparable to cell phone exposure can directly damage brain cell DNA.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling laboratory evidence that radiofrequency radiation can cause direct genetic damage to brain cells. The 11-fold increase in micronuclei formation is particularly significant because micronuclei are well-established markers of DNA damage and chromosomal breaks. The researchers used a SAR level of 0.725 W/kg, which falls within the range of typical cell phone exposures during calls. What makes this research especially relevant is that it examined brain cells specifically, the very tissue most exposed during cell phone use. The simultaneous changes in gene expression related to cell death pathways suggest the radiation triggered multiple biological stress responses. While this was a laboratory study using isolated cells rather than whole animals, it adds to the growing body of evidence that RF radiation can cause measurable biological effects at exposure levels we encounter daily.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.725 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 10.715 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 6 h in 3 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.725 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 1.8x 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
The aim of this study is to evaluate the genotoxic effects of RF waves in an experimental brain cell culture model.
Brain cell cultures of the mice were exposed to 10.715 GHz with specific absorbtion rate (SAR) 0.725...
It was found that MNi rate increased 11-fold and STAT3 expression decreased 7-fold in the cell cultu...
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2012_the_genotoxic_effect_of_1088,
author = {Karaca E and Durmaz B and Aktug H and Yildiz T and Guducu C and Irgi M and Koksal MG and Ozkinay F and Gunduz C and Cogulu O.},
title = {The genotoxic effect of radiofrequency waves on mouse brain.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21732071/},
}