Comparison of 864 MHz and 935 MHz microwave radiation effects on cell culture.
Pavicic I, Trosic I, Sarolic A · 2006
View Original AbstractMicrowave radiation altered cell growth at power levels 15-20 times below current safety limits, suggesting biological effects occur without cell death.
Plain English Summary
Croatian researchers exposed lab cells to microwave frequencies from older cell phones (864 MHz and 935 MHz) at low power levels. Both frequencies significantly altered cell growth patterns after exposure, with one slowing growth and the other accelerating it, suggesting cellular disruption below current safety limits.
Why This Matters
This study reveals something troubling about how microwave radiation affects living cells. The researchers found measurable biological changes at SAR levels of just 0.08-0.12 W/kg, which are roughly 15-20 times lower than the current US safety limit of 1.6 W/kg for cell phones. What makes this particularly significant is that both frequencies tested produced clear effects on cell growth, but in opposite directions. The 864 MHz frequency slowed cellular growth while 935 MHz accelerated it. This suggests that the biological impact of EMF isn't simply about heating tissue, as the current safety standards assume, but involves more complex cellular mechanisms. The fact that viable cells showed altered growth patterns indicates that EMF exposure can disrupt normal cellular function even when it doesn't kill cells outright. For anyone using wireless devices regularly, this research adds to the growing body of evidence that our current safety standards may not adequately protect against biological effects occurring well below the heating threshold.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.08 and 0.12 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 864 MHz and 935 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 1, 2 or 3 h
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The objective of this study was to compare the effects of 864 MHz and 935 MHz radiofrequency/microwave radiation on the ability of V79 cells to proliferate, form colonies and on their viability.
For one, two and three hours, the cells were exposed to the 864 MHz field in a transversal electroma...
In comparison to the control cell samples, the growth curve of the 864 MHz irradiated cells showed a...
Show BibTeX
@article{i_2006_comparison_of_864_mhz_1261,
author = {Pavicic I and Trosic I and Sarolic A},
title = {Comparison of 864 MHz and 935 MHz microwave radiation effects on cell culture.},
year = {2006},
url = {https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/6352},
}