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DNA & Genetic Damage

Measurement of DNA damage after acute exposure to pulsed-wave 2450 MHz microwaves in rat brain cells by two alkaline comet assay methods.

No Effects Found

Lagroye I, Anane R, Wettring BA, Moros EG, Straube WL, Laregina M, Niehoff M, Pickard WF, Baty J, Roti JL. · 2004

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Two-hour exposure to 2450 MHz microwaves showed no detectable DNA damage in rat brain cells, though this doesn't address long-term cumulative effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to 2450 MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in microwave ovens and older WiFi) for 2 hours and then examined their brain cells for DNA damage using sensitive laboratory tests. They found no detectable DNA damage in the brain cells, even when using two different testing methods designed to catch subtle genetic harm. This suggests that short-term exposure to this type of microwave radiation at moderate power levels may not cause immediate DNA damage in brain tissue.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.45 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.45 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 2450 MHz Duration: 2‐h exposure

Study Details

To investigate the effect of 2450 MHz pulsed‐wave microwaves on the induction of DNA damage in brain cells of exposed rats and to discover whether proteinase K is needed to detect DNA damage in the brain cells of rats exposed to 2450 MHz microwaves.

Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 2450 MHz pulsed‐wave microwaves and sacrificed 4 h after a 2‐h e...

Significant DNA damage was observed in the rat brain cells of rats exposed to γ‐rays using both vers...

No DNA damage in brain cells was detected following exposure of rats to 2450 MHz microwaves pulsed‐wave at a specific absorption rate of 1.2 W kg−1 regardless of whether or not proteinase K was included in the assay. Thus, the results support the conclusion that low‐level 2450 MHz pulsed‐wave microwave exposures do not induce DNA damage detectable by the alkaline comet assay.

Cite This Study
Lagroye I, Anane R, Wettring BA, Moros EG, Straube WL, Laregina M, Niehoff M, Pickard WF, Baty J, Roti JL. (2004). Measurement of DNA damage after acute exposure to pulsed-wave 2450 MHz microwaves in rat brain cells by two alkaline comet assay methods. Int J Radiat Biol. 80(1):11-20, 2004.
Show BibTeX
@article{i_2004_measurement_of_dna_damage_2916,
  author = {Lagroye I and Anane R and Wettring BA and Moros EG and Straube WL and Laregina M and Niehoff M and Pickard WF and Baty J and Roti JL.},
  title = {Measurement of DNA damage after acute exposure to pulsed-wave 2450 MHz microwaves in rat brain cells by two alkaline comet assay methods.},
  year = {2004},
  doi = {10.1080/09553000310001642911},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000310001642911},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553000310001642911

Cited By (57 papers)

View all 57 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2004 study found no DNA damage in rat brain cells after 2-hour exposure to 2450 MHz pulsed microwaves at 1.2 W/kg. Researchers used two sensitive comet assay methods to detect genetic damage but found no difference between exposed and control rats.
Rats were exposed to 2450 MHz pulsed microwave radiation for 2 hours in this DNA damage study. Despite this relatively long exposure duration, researchers found no detectable genetic damage in brain cells using sensitive laboratory testing methods.
Researchers tested 2450 MHz pulsed microwave radiation at 1.2 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) for brain DNA damage. This moderate power level produced no detectable genetic damage in rat brain cells after 2-hour exposure.
Both alkaline comet assay methods - with and without proteinase K enzyme - detected no DNA damage from 2450 MHz microwave exposure. These sensitive laboratory tests can detect subtle genetic harm but found no difference between exposed and control rat brain cells.
No, 2450 MHz radiation (the same frequency as microwave ovens) caused no immediate DNA damage to rat brain cells in laboratory testing. A 2004 study found no genetic harm after 2-hour exposure at moderate power levels.