8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Cellular Effects

Activation of the TRPV1 Thermoreceptor Induced by Modulated or Unmodulated 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure.

Bioeffects Seen

Ruigrok HJ, Arnaud-Cormos D, Hurtier A , Poque E, de Gannes FP, Ruffié G, Bonnaudin F, Lagroye I, Sojic N, Arbault S, Lévêque P, Veyret B, Percherancier Y · 2018

View Original Abstract
Share:

RF radiation only activated heat-sensitive cellular channels when it produced measurable heating, finding no evidence of non-thermal activation mechanisms.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested whether 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices could activate heat-sensitive cell channels through non-thermal effects. They found RF radiation only activated these channels when it produced actual heating, providing no evidence for non-thermal biological effects at the cellular level.

Why This Matters

This research addresses a fundamental question in EMF science: whether radiofrequency radiation affects cells through mechanisms beyond simple heating. The study used sophisticated real-time monitoring techniques to examine TRPV1 channels, which are crucial for detecting temperature changes in our bodies. While the exposure levels tested (8-32 W/kg) are much higher than typical everyday exposures from phones or Wi-Fi (which range from 0.1-2 W/kg), the findings support the thermal mechanism of RF interaction with cellular receptors. What this means for you is that the study reinforces current understanding that RF radiation's primary biological interaction occurs through heating, though questions remain about other cellular pathways and the cumulative effects of chronic low-level exposures that weren't examined in this research.

Exposure Details

SAR
8 and 32 W/kg
Source/Device
1800 MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 8 and 32 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: 8 and 32 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern rangeFCC limit is 0x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The existence of effects of radiofrequency field exposure at environmental levels on living tissues and organisms remains controversial, in particular regarding potential "nonthermal" effects produced in the absence of temperature elevation. Therefore, we investigated whether TRPV1, one of the most studied thermosensitive channels, can be activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency fields and by some specific nonthermal interaction with the fields.

We have recently shown that TRPV1 activation can be assessed in real-time on live cells using the bi...

We showed that, as expected, TRPV1 channels were activated by the heat produced by radiofrequency fi...

Cite This Study
Ruigrok HJ, Arnaud-Cormos D, Hurtier A , Poque E, de Gannes FP, Ruffié G, Bonnaudin F, Lagroye I, Sojic N, Arbault S, Lévêque P, Veyret B, Percherancier Y (2018). Activation of the TRPV1 Thermoreceptor Induced by Modulated or Unmodulated 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure. Radiat Res.2018 Jan;189(1):95-103.
Show BibTeX
@article{hj_2018_activation_of_the_trpv1_1302,
  author = {Ruigrok HJ and Arnaud-Cormos D and Hurtier A  and Poque E and de Gannes FP and Ruffié G and Bonnaudin F and Lagroye I and Sojic N and Arbault S and Lévêque P and Veyret B and Percherancier Y},
  title = {Activation of the TRPV1 Thermoreceptor Induced by Modulated or Unmodulated 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure.},
  year = {2018},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29059001/},
}
PubMed: 29059001

Cited By (5 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, research shows 1800 MHz cell phone radiation only activates heat-sensitive TRPV1 channels when it actually produces heat. A 2018 study found no evidence that radiofrequency radiation triggers these cellular heat sensors through non-thermal mechanisms, contradicting theories about non-heating biological effects.
Current evidence suggests no non-thermal cellular effects from 1800 MHz radiation. Researchers tested whether this frequency could activate cellular channels without heating and found activation only occurred when actual temperature increases were present, providing no support for non-thermal biological mechanisms.
Cell phone radiation at 1800 MHz only affects heat-sensitive TRPV1 channels when it produces actual heating. Research shows no direct cellular effects occur without temperature elevation, suggesting the primary concern is thermal heating rather than other biological mechanisms at the cellular level.
Radiofrequency exposure at 1800 MHz impacts cellular heat channels (TRPV1) only through thermal heating effects. A 2018 study demonstrated that these channels activate when RF radiation raises cell temperature but found no activation or altered function when temperature remained constant during exposure.
This specific research found no evidence of non-thermal risks from 1800 MHz radiation at the cellular level. The study showed heat-sensitive channels only responded when actual heating occurred, suggesting thermal effects rather than non-thermal mechanisms drive any cellular responses to this frequency.