6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

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

DNA & Genetic Damage

Analysis of gene expression in mouse brain regions after exposure to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields.

No Effects Found

McNamee JP, Bellier PV, Konkle AT, Thomas R, Wasoontarajaroen S, Lemay E, Gajda GB. · 2016

View Original Abstract
Share:

No significant brain gene expression changes found at cell phone-level RF exposure, though study couldn't detect subtle effects below 1.5-fold changes.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Canadian researchers exposed mice to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for 4 hours daily over 5 days and examined gene activity in seven different brain regions. They found no consistent changes in gene expression at exposure levels of 0.2 or 1.4 W/kg, though they acknowledge their study may have missed very small changes below 1.5-fold. This suggests that short-term RF exposure at these levels doesn't significantly alter how genes function in the brain.

Why This Matters

This study represents one of the most comprehensive examinations of RF effects on brain gene expression to date, analyzing seven distinct brain regions with rigorous statistical controls. The exposure levels tested (0.2-1.4 W/kg) span the range of typical cell phone use, where phones typically operate between 0.1-2 W/kg SAR. While the researchers found no statistically significant gene expression changes, they honestly acknowledge a critical limitation: their methods could only detect changes of 1.5-fold or greater. Put simply, more subtle genetic effects could exist below their detection threshold. What this means for you is that while this study provides some reassurance about dramatic genetic disruption, it doesn't rule out smaller changes that could accumulate over longer exposure periods or higher intensities than tested here.

Exposure Details

SAR
0, 0.2 and 1.4 W/kg
Source/Device
1.9 GHz
Exposure Duration
4 h/day for 5 consecutive days

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0, 0.2 and 1.4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 8 times higher than this level
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

Study Details

To assess 1.9 GHz radiofrequency (RF) field exposure on gene expression within a variety of discrete mouse brain regions using whole genome microarray analysis.

Adult male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated or continuous-wave RF fields for 4 h...

When analysis of gene expression was conducted within individual brain regions when controlling the...

The current study provides the most comprehensive analysis of potential gene expression changes in the rodent brain in response to RF field exposure conducted to date. Within the exposure conditions and limitations of this study, no convincing evidence of consistent changes in gene expression was found in response to 1.9 GHz RF field exposure.

Cite This Study
McNamee JP, Bellier PV, Konkle AT, Thomas R, Wasoontarajaroen S, Lemay E, Gajda GB. (2016). Analysis of gene expression in mouse brain regions after exposure to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields. Int J Radiat Biol. 92(6):338-50,2016 .
Show BibTeX
@article{jp_2016_analysis_of_gene_expression_3241,
  author = {McNamee JP and Bellier PV and Konkle AT and Thomas R and Wasoontarajaroen S and Lemay E and Gajda GB.},
  title = {Analysis of gene expression in mouse brain regions after exposure to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields.},
  year = {2016},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27028625/},
}
PubMed: 27028625

Cited By (14 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, Canadian researchers found no significant changes in gene expression when mice were exposed to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation for 4 hours daily over 5 days. The study examined seven brain regions at exposure levels of 0.2 and 1.4 W/kg, finding no consistent alterations in how genes function.
Researchers exposed mice to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields for 4 hours daily over 5 consecutive days. This 2016 Canadian study examined gene expression changes in seven different brain regions after this short-term exposure protocol at levels similar to cell phone radiation.
The study examined gene expression in seven different mouse brain regions after 1.9 GHz exposure, though specific regions aren't detailed in available summaries. Researchers found no consistent changes in gene activity across any of the brain areas tested at exposure levels up to 1.4 W/kg.
Possibly, but this study couldn't detect them. Researchers acknowledged their study had limited ability to detect gene expression changes smaller than 1.5-fold. Most observed changes were below this threshold, so very small genetic effects from 1.9 GHz exposure cannot be ruled out completely.
This 2016 study represents the most comprehensive analysis of gene expression changes in rodent brains from RF exposure conducted to date. It examined multiple brain regions, used proper statistical controls, and tested different exposure levels and modulations of 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields systematically.