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DNA & Genetic Damage

A genotoxic analysis of the hematopoietic system after mobile phone type radiation exposure in rats.

No Effects Found

Kumar G, McIntosh RL, Anderson V, McKenzie RJ, Wood AW. · 2015

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Rat bone marrow showed no DNA damage from cell phone radiation at safety-limit levels in this controlled lab study.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rat bone marrow to cell phone-type radiation at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies to test for DNA damage and changes in blood cell production. They found no significant effects on genetic damage or cell growth at radiation levels of 2-2.5 watts per kilogram, which are similar to current safety limits. This study suggests that short-term exposure to these specific radiation levels may not cause immediate DNA damage in blood-forming cells.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the mixed body of research on EMF effects on DNA and blood cells, finding no genotoxic effects at SAR levels near current regulatory limits. The 2-2.5 W/kg exposure levels tested are close to the 2 W/kg SAR limit for mobile phones in many countries, making these findings directly relevant to everyday phone use. However, this research examined only acute effects in isolated bone marrow samples, not long-term exposure in living animals. The reality is that while this study found no immediate DNA damage, it doesn't address chronic exposure effects or other biological endpoints that have shown sensitivity to RF radiation in other research. What this means for you is that while this particular study is reassuring, it represents just one piece of a much larger scientific puzzle that continues to evolve.

Exposure Details

SAR
2 or 2.5 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 2 or 2.5 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 2 or 2.5 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

In this paper we extend the scope of the previous study by testing for possible effects at: (i) different SAR levels; (ii) both 900 and 1800 MHz, and; (iii) both CW and pulse modulated (PM) RFR.

Excised long bones from rats were placed in medium and RFR exposed in (i) a Transverse Electromagnet...

Our data did not indicate any significant change in these end points for any combination of CW/PM ex...

No significant changes were observed in the hematopoietic system of rats after the exposure of CW/PM wave 900 MHz/1800 MHz RF radiations at different SAR values.

Cite This Study
Kumar G, McIntosh RL, Anderson V, McKenzie RJ, Wood AW. (2015). A genotoxic analysis of the hematopoietic system after mobile phone type radiation exposure in rats. Int J Radiat Biol. 91(8):664-672, 2015.
Show BibTeX
@article{g_2015_a_genotoxic_analysis_of_2914,
  author = {Kumar G and McIntosh RL and Anderson V and McKenzie RJ and Wood AW.},
  title = {A genotoxic analysis of the hematopoietic system after mobile phone type radiation exposure in rats.},
  year = {2015},
  doi = {10.3109/09553002.2015.1047988},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/09553002.2015.1047988},
}
DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2015.1047988

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2015 study found no significant DNA damage in rat bone marrow after exposure to 900 MHz cell phone radiation at 2-2.5 watts per kilogram. The research examined blood-forming cells and found no changes in genetic damage or cell production at these radiation levels.
Research on rat bone marrow suggests current SAR limits may be adequate for protecting blood-forming cells. A 2015 study found no significant effects on the hematopoietic system at radiation levels of 2-2.5 W/kg, which are similar to current safety standards.
Researchers tested 900 MHz and 1800 MHz radiation at SAR levels of 2/10 W/kg and 2.5/12.4 W/kg on rat bone marrow. These levels mirror current safety limits and showed no significant effects on blood cell production or DNA damage.
A 2015 rat study found no difference between pulsed and continuous wave 900 MHz radiation effects on blood formation. Both exposure types at 2-2.5 W/kg SAR levels showed no significant changes in the hematopoietic system or genetic damage.
The Kumar 2015 study exposed rat bone marrow to 900 MHz and 1800 MHz cell phone radiation, though specific exposure duration details weren't provided in available summaries. No significant DNA damage or blood cell changes occurred at tested SAR levels.