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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Cancer & Tumors

Neoplastic Transformation in C3H 10T(1/2) Cells after Exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA and 847.74 MHz CDMA Radiations.

No Effects Found

Roti Roti JL , Malyapa RS, Bisht KS, Ahern EW, Moros EG, Pickard WF, Straube WL · 2001

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Cell phone radiation at 0.6 W/kg SAR showed no cancer-causing effects in this laboratory study of mouse cells.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mouse cells to cell phone radiation at frequencies used by FDMA and CDMA networks (835-848 MHz) for 7 days to see if it would cause normal cells to become cancerous. They also tested whether this radiation could promote cancer development in cells already damaged by X-rays. The study found no increased cancer transformation in cells exposed to either type of cell phone radiation compared to unexposed cells.

Why This Matters

This study represents important foundational research on whether cell phone radiation can directly trigger cancer development at the cellular level. The researchers used the gold standard C3H 10T1/2 cell transformation assay, which is specifically designed to detect cancer-causing potential. The exposure level of 0.6 W/kg SAR is within the range of typical cell phone use, making these findings relevant to everyday exposure scenarios. However, this is a single study using one specific cell line and exposure protocol. While the negative results are reassuring, they don't definitively rule out cancer risk from RF radiation. The broader body of research on RF and cancer shows mixed results, with some studies finding increased cancer risk and others finding none. What this study does demonstrate is that at these specific frequencies and exposure levels, there's no immediate transformation of healthy cells into cancer cells.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.6 W/kg
Source/Device
835.62 MHz FDMA and 847.74 MHz CDMA
Exposure Duration
7 days and 42-days

Exposure Context

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: 0.6 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 3 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 835.6 MHz - 847.7 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 835.6 MHz - 847.7 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The effect of radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the cellular phone communication range (835.62 MHz frequency division multiple access, FDMA; 847.74 MHz code division multiple access, CDMA) on neoplastic transformation frequency was measured using the in vitro C3H 10T(1/2) cell transformation assay system.

To determine if 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiations have any genotoxic effects that induc...

After both the 7-day RF exposure and the 42-day RF exposure after X irradiation, no statistically s...

Cite This Study
Roti Roti JL , Malyapa RS, Bisht KS, Ahern EW, Moros EG, Pickard WF, Straube WL (2001). Neoplastic Transformation in C3H 10T(1/2) Cells after Exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA and 847.74 MHz CDMA Radiations. Radiat Res 155(1):239-247, 2001.
Show BibTeX
@article{jl_2001_neoplastic_transformation_in_c3h_3337,
  author = {Roti Roti JL  and Malyapa RS and Bisht KS and Ahern EW and Moros EG and Pickard WF and Straube WL},
  title = {Neoplastic Transformation in C3H 10T(1/2) Cells after Exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA and 847.74 MHz CDMA Radiations.},
  year = {2001},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11121241/},
}
PubMed: 11121241

Cited By (37 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2001 study found no increased cancer transformation in mouse cells exposed to CDMA radiation at 847.74 MHz for 7 days. The research showed no statistically significant differences between exposed and unexposed cells, suggesting this specific frequency doesn't promote cancer development.
Research testing FDMA radiation at 835.62 MHz found no evidence of neoplastic transformation in normal mouse cells. After 7 days of exposure, cells showed no increased cancer development compared to unexposed controls, indicating this frequency doesn't cause cellular transformation.
A study exposed X-ray damaged cells to FDMA and CDMA frequencies for 42 days to test cancer promotion effects. Results showed no increased transformation rates compared to controls, suggesting cell phone radiation doesn't accelerate cancer development in already-damaged cells.
C3H 10T1/2 mouse cells are widely used to study cancer transformation because they reliably convert from normal to cancerous when exposed to carcinogens. A 2001 study used these cells to test FDMA and CDMA radiation effects, finding no transformation at typical cell phone frequencies.
Seven-day continuous exposure to cell phone frequencies between 835-848 MHz produced no cancer transformation in laboratory studies. Researchers found no statistical difference between radiation-exposed cells and unexposed controls, indicating short-term exposure at these frequencies appears safe for cellular health.