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Stimulation of production of tumor necrosis factor by murine macrophages when exposed in vio and in vitro to weak electromagnetic waves in the centimeter range

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Novoselova ET, Fesenko EE. · 1998

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Microwave radiation 1,000 times weaker than cell phones significantly altered immune system function in this study.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Russian researchers exposed mice to extremely weak microwave radiation (8.15-18 GHz) at power levels 1,000 times lower than cell phones. The exposure significantly increased production of tumor necrosis factor, a key immune protein, suggesting even very low-level microwaves can alter immune function.

Why This Matters

This 1998 study reveals something remarkable: microwave radiation at power densities of just 1 microW/cm2 can measurably alter immune function. To put this in perspective, this exposure level is roughly 1,000 times weaker than what your cell phone produces during a call, yet it still triggered significant biological responses in immune cells. The researchers found increased tumor necrosis factor production, which plays a crucial role in inflammation and immune responses throughout the body. What makes this particularly significant is that the effect occurred both in living animals and in isolated cells, suggesting a direct biological mechanism rather than a secondary stress response. The reality is that our immune systems appear far more sensitive to electromagnetic fields than regulatory agencies acknowledge, responding to exposures well below current safety limits.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.001 µW/m²
Source/Device
8.15-18 GHz

Exposure Context

This study used 0.001 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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 Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.001 µW/m²Extreme Concern1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit10M uW/m2Effects observed in the No Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 10,000,000,000x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

To investigate stimulation of production of tumor necrosis factor by murine macrophages when exposed in vio and in vitro to weak electromagnetic waves in the centimeter range

Whole-body microwave sinusoidal irradiation of male NMRI mice, exposure of macrophages in vitro, and...

The role of microwaves as a factor interfering with the process of cell immunity is discussed.

Cite This Study
Novoselova ET, Fesenko EE. (1998). Stimulation of production of tumor necrosis factor by murine macrophages when exposed in vio and in vitro to weak electromagnetic waves in the centimeter range Biofizika 43(6):1132-1333, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{et_1998_stimulation_of_production_of_1233,
  author = {Novoselova ET and Fesenko EE.},
  title = {Stimulation of production of tumor necrosis factor by murine macrophages when exposed in vio and in vitro to weak electromagnetic waves in the centimeter range},
  year = {1998},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10079935/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Russian researchers exposed mice to extremely weak microwave radiation (8.15-18 GHz) at power levels 1,000 times lower than cell phones. The exposure significantly increased production of tumor necrosis factor, a key immune protein, suggesting even very low-level microwaves can alter immune function.