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DNA & Genetic Damage

DNA damage and micronucleus induction in human leukocytes after acute in vitro exposure to a 1.9 GHz continuous-wave radiofrequency field

No Effects Found

McNamee JP, Bellier PV, Gajda GB, Miller SM, Lemay EP, Lavallee BF, Marro L, Thansandote A. · 2002

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Two-hour cell phone radiation exposure showed no DNA damage in immune cells, even at levels 5 times higher than typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human white blood cells to cell phone radiation (1.9 GHz) for 2 hours at various power levels to see if it would damage DNA or cause genetic abnormalities. They found no evidence of DNA damage or genetic changes at any exposure level tested, including levels 5 times higher than typical cell phone use. This Canadian government study suggests that short-term radiofrequency exposure may not directly harm genetic material in immune cells.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.90 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.90 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 1.9 GHz Duration: 2h

Study Details

To investigate whether acute (2h) exposure to a 1.9 GHz continuous wave (CW) radiofrequency field could elicit primary DNA damage and/or induce micronucleus formation in cultured human leukocytes.

Human blood cultures were exposed to a 1.9 GHz continuous-wave (CW) radiofrequency (RF) field for 2 ...

No evidence of increased primary DNA damage was detected by any parameter for RF-field-exposed cultu...

These results do not support the hypothesis that acute, nonthermalizing 1.9 GHz CW RF-field exposure causes DNA damage in cultured human leukocytes.

Cite This Study
McNamee JP, Bellier PV, Gajda GB, Miller SM, Lemay EP, Lavallee BF, Marro L, Thansandote A. (2002). DNA damage and micronucleus induction in human leukocytes after acute in vitro exposure to a 1.9 GHz continuous-wave radiofrequency field Radiat Res 158(4):523-533, 2002.
Show BibTeX
@article{jp_2002_dna_damage_and_micronucleus_3238,
  author = {McNamee JP and Bellier PV and Gajda GB and Miller SM and Lemay EP and Lavallee BF and Marro L and Thansandote A.},
  title = {DNA damage and micronucleus induction in human leukocytes after acute in vitro exposure to a 1.9 GHz continuous-wave radiofrequency field},
  year = {2002},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12236820/},
}
PubMed: 12236820

Cited By (87 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 2002 Canadian government study found no DNA damage or genetic changes in human white blood cells exposed to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation for 2 hours, even at levels 5 times higher than typical cell phone use.
Research testing 2-hour exposures to 1.9 GHz cell phone radiation found no evidence of genetic damage in human immune cells. The study tested various power levels including those much higher than normal phone use.
Laboratory testing of human leukocytes exposed to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields showed no DNA damage or micronucleus formation, suggesting this frequency may not directly harm white blood cells during short-term exposure.
A controlled study exposing human blood cells to radiofrequency radiation at various SAR levels, including those exceeding normal cell phone exposure, detected no increase in DNA damage or chromosomal abnormalities.
Human immune cells showed no signs of genetic damage when exposed to 1.9 GHz continuous radiofrequency radiation in laboratory conditions, according to research using standard DNA damage detection methods like micronucleus testing.