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Brain & Nervous System

Effects of exposure of the ear to GSM microwaves: in vivo and in vitro experimental studies.

No Effects Found

Aran JM, Carrere N, Chalan Y, Dulou PE, Larrieu S, Letenneur L, Veyret B, Dulon D. · 2004

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Cell phone radiation showed no hearing damage in guinea pigs at levels up to 4 W/kg, double current phone safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

French researchers exposed guinea pigs' ears to cell phone radiation (900 MHz GSM) for 1 hour daily over 2 months at power levels up to 4 times higher than typical phone use. They found no damage to hearing function or inner ear structures, even when examining the ears immediately after exposure and 2 months later. The study also tested isolated ear tissue from newborn rats and found no cellular damage under microscopic examination.

Why This Matters

This study provides reassuring evidence that cell phone radiation doesn't appear to damage hearing at exposure levels well above what people typically experience during phone calls. The researchers used SAR levels up to 4 W/kg, which is double the current safety limit of 2 W/kg for phones in most countries. What makes this research particularly valuable is its comprehensive approach - the scientists looked at both immediate effects and long-term changes, examined multiple aspects of hearing function, and even studied isolated ear tissue. However, we should note this was conducted on animal models, and the exposure pattern (1 hour daily) may not fully replicate how people actually use phones throughout the day. While these findings suggest our ears can handle typical phone radiation without obvious damage, they represent just one piece of the larger EMF health puzzle that continues to evolve as our wireless exposure increases.

Exposure Details

SAR
1, 2 and 4 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
1 h/day, 5 days/week, for 2 months

Exposure Context

This study used 1, 2 and 4 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: 1, 2 and 4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The effects of mobile phone (GSM) microwaves on the ears of guinea pigs were investigated in two in vivo experiments and one in vitro experiment

In the first experiment, three groups of eight guinea pigs had their left ear exposed for 1 h/day, 5...

Repeated-measures ANOVA showed no difference in DPOAE amplitudes or in ABR thresholds between the ex...

These results provided no evidence that microwave radiation, at the levels produced by mobile phones, caused damage to the inner ear or the auditory pathways in our experimental animals.

Cite This Study
Aran JM, Carrere N, Chalan Y, Dulou PE, Larrieu S, Letenneur L, Veyret B, Dulon D. (2004). Effects of exposure of the ear to GSM microwaves: in vivo and in vitro experimental studies. Int J Audiol. 43(9):545-554, 2004.
Show BibTeX
@article{jm_2004_effects_of_exposure_of_2945,
  author = {Aran JM and Carrere N and Chalan Y and Dulou PE and Larrieu S and Letenneur L and Veyret B and Dulon D.},
  title = {Effects of exposure of the ear to GSM microwaves: in vivo and in vitro experimental studies.},
  year = {2004},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15726845/},
}
PubMed: 15726845

Cited By (43 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

French researchers found no hearing damage in guinea pigs exposed to 900 MHz GSM radiation for one hour daily over two months. The study tested power levels up to four times higher than typical phone use and found no effects on hearing function or inner ear structures.
A 2004 study found no damage to inner ear structures in guinea pigs exposed to 900 MHz GSM radiation. Researchers examined the ears immediately after exposure and two months later, finding no structural changes even at power levels exceeding normal phone use.
Research on guinea pigs showed no damage to auditory pathways from GSM microwave exposure. Animals were exposed to 900 MHz radiation for one hour daily over two months, with hearing tests showing no significant differences between exposed and unexposed ears.
Laboratory tests on isolated ear tissue from newborn rats found no cellular damage from 900 MHz GSM radiation. Researchers exposed tissue samples for 24-48 hours at 1 W/kg and observed normal appearance under microscopic examination after 2-3 days in culture.
Guinea pig studies found no immediate hearing effects from one-hour exposure to 900 MHz GSM radiation. Researchers measured hearing thresholds before and immediately after exposure, finding no statistically significant differences in auditory function between exposed and unexposed animals.