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

DNA & Genetic Damage

DNA Damage in human leukocytes after acute in vitro exposure to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field.

No Effects Found

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

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This lab study found no immediate DNA damage in immune cells from 2-hour RF exposure up to 10 W/kg, well above typical phone levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Canadian researchers exposed human white blood cells to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 2 hours at various power levels up to 10 W/kg. They found no DNA damage in the cells compared to unexposed controls, using two different laboratory tests to detect genetic harm. This study suggests that short-term RF exposure at these levels does not cause immediate DNA breaks 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 study the DNA Damage in Human Leukocytes after Acute In Vitro Exposure to a 1.9 GHz Pulse-Modulated Radiofrequency Field .

Blood cultures from human volunteers were exposed to an acute 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency...

When compared to the sham-treated controls, no evidence of increased primary DNA damage was detecte...

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

Cite This Study
McNamee JP, Bellier PV, Gajda GB, Lavallee BF, Lemay EP, Marro L, Thansandote A. (2002). DNA Damage in human leukocytes after acute in vitro exposure to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field. Radiat Res 158(4):534-537, 2002.
Show BibTeX
@article{jp_2002_dna_damage_in_human_3239,
  author = {McNamee JP and Bellier PV and Gajda GB and Lavallee BF and Lemay EP and Marro L and Thansandote A. },
  title = {DNA Damage in human leukocytes after acute in vitro exposure to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field.},
  year = {2002},
  
  url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/158/4/534/331903/DNA-Damage-in-Human-Leukocytes-after-Acute-In},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

No, Canadian researchers found no DNA damage in human white blood cells after 2-hour exposure to 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency radiation at power levels up to 10 W/kg. Two different laboratory tests confirmed that short-term RF exposure at these levels does not cause genetic harm to immune cells.
No, a 2002 study found that human leukocytes exposed to 1.9 GHz RF radiation at power levels up to 10 W/kg for 2 hours showed no DNA damage compared to unexposed controls. The research used alkaline comet assays to detect genetic breaks and found no significant effects.
According to Canadian research, 2-hour exposure to 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) caused no DNA damage in human white blood cells. The study tested various power levels up to 10 W/kg and found no evidence of genetic harm using multiple laboratory tests.
No, researchers found no significant differences in micronuclei formation between RF-exposed human leukocytes and control cells. The 2002 study exposed cells to 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiation for 2 hours at various power levels and detected no increase in this marker of genetic damage.
The McNamee study tested human white blood cells at various specific absorption rate (SAR) levels up to 10 W/kg using 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF radiation. No DNA damage was detected at any SAR level tested during the 2-hour exposure period using both comet assays and micronucleus tests.