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Effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation on the rats' brain, liver and kidney cells measured by comet assay

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Trosić I, Pavicić I, Milković-Kraus S, Mladinić M, Zeljezić D · 2011

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Two weeks of cell phone-level radiation caused measurable DNA damage in rat organs, suggesting genetic effects occur without heating.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (915 MHz) for one hour daily over two weeks. DNA damage was found in liver and kidney cells using comet assay testing. This suggests short-term radiofrequency exposure at cell phone levels can cause genetic damage in organs.

Why This Matters

This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that radiofrequency radiation can damage DNA at the cellular level. The exposure level used (0.6 W/kg SAR) is well within the range of what your cell phone produces when held against your head, making these findings directly relevant to daily phone use. What makes this research particularly significant is that DNA damage occurred across multiple organ systems after just two weeks of exposure. The science demonstrates that our cells don't need to heat up for biological effects to occur - the researchers confirmed no temperature changes in the animals. While the study's authors describe the DNA damage as modest compared to baseline levels, any measurable genetic damage from a consumer device should give us pause, especially considering the billions of people using these technologies daily.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.6 W/kg
Power Density
0.24 µW/m²
Electric Field
30 V/m
Source/Device
915 MHz
Exposure Duration
1 hour/day, 7 days/week for 2 weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 0.24 µW/m² for radio frequency:

This study used 30 V/m for electric fields:

This study used 0.6 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: 0.24 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit - 10M uW/m2Effects observed in the Slight Concern rangeFCC limit is 41,666,667x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 915 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 915 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The goal of study was to evaluate DNA damage in rat's renal, liver and brain cells after in vivo exposure to radiofrequency/microwave (Rf/Mw) radiation of cellular phone frequencies range.

To determine DNA damage, a single cell gel electrophoresis/comet assay was used. Wistar rats (male, ...

There were no differences in temperature in between control and treated animals. Comet assay paramet...

The results of this study suggest that, under the experimental conditions applied, repeated 915 MHz irradiation could be a cause of DNA breaks in renal and liver cells, but not affect the cell genome at the higher extent compared to the basal damage.

Cite This Study
Trosić I, Pavicić I, Milković-Kraus S, Mladinić M, Zeljezić D (2011). Effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation on the rats' brain, liver and kidney cells measured by comet assay Coll Antropol. 35(4):1259-1264, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{i_2011_effect_of_electromagnetic_radiofrequency_194,
  author = {Trosić I and Pavicić I and Milković-Kraus S and Mladinić M and Zeljezić D},
  title = {Effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation on the rats' brain, liver and kidney cells measured by comet assay},
  year = {2011},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22397269/},
}
PubMed: 22397269

Cited By (33 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2011 study found that 915 MHz radiation caused DNA damage in rat liver cells after just one hour of daily exposure for two weeks. The comet assay showed significantly longer DNA damage tails in liver cells compared to unexposed controls, indicating genetic breaks occurred.
Research shows that one hour of daily 915 MHz exposure for two weeks caused DNA damage in rat kidney cells. The study used comet assay testing and found longer damage tails in kidney cells compared to controls, suggesting genetic breaks from short-term exposure.
A 2011 study found minimal DNA damage in rat brain cells from 915 MHz exposure. While liver and kidney cells showed significant damage, brain cells had only slight increases in DNA damage markers after two weeks of one-hour daily exposure.
DNA damage from 915 MHz radiation can occur within two weeks of exposure. A study found that just one hour of daily exposure for 14 days caused measurable genetic damage in rat liver and kidney cells using sensitive comet assay testing.
Yes, 915 MHz radiation caused DNA damage in rat organs without raising body temperature. The 2011 study confirmed no temperature differences between exposed and control animals, yet still found genetic damage in liver and kidney cells, indicating non-thermal biological effects.