Is mobile phone radiation genotoxic? An analysis of micronucleus frequency in exfoliated buccal cells.
de Oliveira FM, Carmona AM2 Ladeira C. · 2017
View Original AbstractMobile phone use showed no DNA damage in cheek cells, but the study lacked actual radiation measurements.
Plain English Summary
Researchers examined cheek cells from 86 mobile phone users to see if phone radiation causes micronuclei (tiny fragments that indicate DNA damage). They found no difference in DNA damage between the side of the mouth where people held their phones versus the opposite side, and no relationship between daily phone use duration and genetic damage.
Why This Matters
This study adds to a mixed body of research on whether mobile phone radiation damages DNA at the cellular level. The researchers used a well-established biomarker for genetic damage, comparing cells from both sides of users' mouths to account for direct exposure differences. However, the study has significant limitations that weaken its conclusions. The researchers didn't measure actual radiation exposure levels, relying instead on self-reported phone use patterns. Without dosimetry data, we can't know how much EMF these participants actually absorbed, making it impossible to determine safe exposure thresholds. The reality is that modern smartphones emit varying levels of radiation depending on signal strength, network type, and usage patterns. While this study suggests no immediate DNA damage at typical usage levels, the absence of quantified exposure data means we still lack crucial information about dose-response relationships that could inform safety standards.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The aim of this study Is to investigate Is mobile phone radiation genotoxic? An analysis of micronucleus frequency in exfoliated buccal cells
To test whether mobile phone-associated EMF exposure affects the MN frequency in exfoliated buccal c...
No relationship was observed between MN frequency and duration of mobile phone use in daily calls. C...
Our results suggest that mobile phone-associated EMF do not to induce MN formation in buccal cells at the observed exposure levels.
Show BibTeX
@article{fm_2017_is_mobile_phone_radiation_2029,
author = {de Oliveira FM and Carmona AM2 Ladeira C.},
title = {Is mobile phone radiation genotoxic? An analysis of micronucleus frequency in exfoliated buccal cells.},
year = {2017},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28844241/},
}