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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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Cell phone-level radiation caused DNA breaks in rat organs at exposure levels below current safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 915 MHz for one hour daily over two weeks and examined DNA damage in brain, liver, and kidney cells using a comet assay test. They found measurable DNA breaks in liver and kidney cells, with less pronounced effects in brain cells. This suggests that radiofrequency radiation at levels similar to cell phone emissions can cause genetic damage in multiple organs.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that radiofrequency radiation can cause DNA damage at exposure levels within current safety guidelines. The SAR level of 0.6 W/kg used here is below the FCC limit of 1.6 W/kg for cell phones, yet still produced measurable genetic damage in multiple organs after just two weeks of exposure. What makes this research particularly significant is that it examined systemic effects beyond just the brain, revealing that RF radiation impacts DNA integrity throughout the body. The comet assay is a well-established method for detecting DNA strand breaks, lending credibility to these findings. While the researchers noted the damage wasn't extensive compared to baseline levels, any increase in DNA breaks raises concerns about cumulative effects from long-term exposure. This study reinforces why many scientists are calling for more protective exposure standards, especially given that most people now carry these devices for years or decades.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.6 W/kg
Power Density
0.24 µW/m²
Source/Device
915 MHz
Exposure Duration
One hour/day, seven days/week during two weeks period

Exposure Context

This study used 0.24 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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, ...

In comparison with tail length in controls (13.5 +/- 0.7 microm), the tail was slightly elongated in...

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 35:1259-1264, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{i_2011_effect_of_electromagnetic_radiofrequency_776,
  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 measurable DNA breaks in rat liver cells after one hour daily exposure for two weeks. The comet assay showed significantly longer DNA tail lengths in liver cells compared to unexposed controls, indicating genetic damage.
Research shows one hour daily exposure to 915 MHz radiation for two weeks caused DNA damage in rat kidney cells. The study found significantly increased DNA tail lengths in kidney cells compared to controls, suggesting radiofrequency radiation can harm genetic material in kidneys.
Yes, brain cells showed less DNA damage from 915 MHz radiation compared to liver and kidney cells. While brain cells had slightly longer DNA tails than controls, the effect was much less pronounced than the significant damage seen in liver and kidney tissue.
A comet assay study found that two weeks of daily 915 MHz radiation exposure damaged DNA in multiple rat organs simultaneously. Liver and kidney cells showed significant genetic damage, while brain cells had minimal effects, demonstrating organ-specific vulnerability to radiofrequency radiation.
Comet assay testing revealed that 915 MHz EMF exposure causes DNA strand breaks in specific organs. The test measured DNA tail lengths, finding significant increases in liver and kidney cells after two weeks of exposure, providing direct evidence of genetic damage from radiofrequency radiation.