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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Cellular Effects

2-GHz Band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields have no significant effect on cell proliferation and gene expression profile in human cells.

No Effects Found

Takeda H, Yasunaga K, Sakuma N, Hirose H, Nojima T, Miyakoshi J. · 2010

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Human cells showed no significant damage from 96-hour exposure to 3G-level RF radiation at intensities within current safety guidelines.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed three types of human cells to 2.1 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to 3G cell phone signals) for up to 96 hours at various power levels. They found no significant effects on cell growth, survival, or gene activity compared to unexposed cells. The study suggests that RF exposure at levels within current safety guidelines doesn't cause immediate cellular stress or damage.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.14 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.14 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 2.1425 GHz Duration: 96 h

Study Details

We investigated the mechanisms by which radiofrequency (RF) fields exert their activity, and the changes in both cell proliferation and the gene expression profile in the human cell lines, A172 (glioblastoma), H4 (neuroglioma), and IMR-90 (fibroblasts from normal fetal lung) following exposure to 2.1425 GHz continuous wave (CW) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) RF fields at three field levels.

During the incubation phase, cells were exposed at the specific absorption rates (SARs) of 80, 250,...

No significant differences in cell growth or viability were observed between any test group exposed ...

These results suggest that RF exposure up to the limit of whole-body average SAR levels as specified in the ICNIRP guidelines is unlikely to elicit a general stress response in the tested cell lines under these conditions.

Cite This Study
Takeda H, Yasunaga K, Sakuma N, Hirose H, Nojima T, Miyakoshi J. (2010). 2-GHz Band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields have no significant effect on cell proliferation and gene expression profile in human cells. J Radiat Res (Tokyo). 51(3):277-284, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2010_2ghz_band_cw_and_3437,
  author = {Takeda H and Yasunaga K and Sakuma N and Hirose H and Nojima T and Miyakoshi J.},
  title = {2-GHz Band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields have no significant effect on cell proliferation and gene expression profile in human cells.},
  year = {2010},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20215713/},
}
PubMed: 20215713

Cited By (26 papers)

View all 26 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

No, 2.1 GHz radiation from 3G cell phones does not affect cell growth. A 2010 Japanese study exposed human cells to this frequency for up to 96 hours and found no significant differences in cell growth or survival compared to unexposed cells.
W-CDMA 3G signals cause minimal gene expression changes in human cells. Research found that less than 1% of approximately 16,000-19,000 genes showed altered expression after 96 hours of exposure to 2.1 GHz W-CDMA radiation at safety guideline levels.
No, 2.1425 GHz radiation within ICNIRP safety limits is not harmful to cells. A controlled study found no cellular stress response, toxicity, or significant biological effects when human cells were exposed for up to 96 hours at approved power levels.
Continuous wave 2 GHz radiation does not cause immediate cellular damage. Japanese researchers found no acute toxic effects on cell proliferation or gene activity when human cells were exposed to both continuous wave and modulated signals for extended periods.
Cells can be exposed to 2.1 GHz radiation for at least 96 hours without significant effects. This 2010 study tested exposures up to four days and found no meaningful changes in cell survival, growth, or genetic activity.