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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

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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.

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: 4 h/day for 5 consecutive days

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.