3,138 Studies Reviewed. 77.4% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.

Electromagnetic fields at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) trigger the onset of general stress response along with DNA modifications in Eisenia fetida earthworms

Bioeffects Seen

Bourdineaud JP, Šrut M, Štambuk A, Tkalec M, Brèthes D, Malarić K, Klobučar GIV · 2017

View Original Abstract
Share:

DNA damage occurred at radiation levels 100 times below safety limits and persisted 24 hours after exposure ended.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Earthworms exposed to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for two hours showed DNA damage and stress responses lasting 24+ hours. The radiation levels were 100 times weaker than safety limits, yet still caused genetic changes, suggesting brief low-level EMF exposure creates lasting biological effects.

Why This Matters

This study delivers a sobering reality check about EMF safety assumptions. The researchers found DNA damage and persistent stress responses at radiation levels far below what regulators consider safe - some exposures were 100 times weaker than current limits. What makes this particularly significant is that the effects didn't disappear when the exposure stopped. Even 24 hours later, the earthworms still showed signs of genetic damage and elevated stress proteins. While earthworms aren't humans, they share fundamental cellular processes with us, and this research adds to a growing body of evidence that our current safety standards may be inadequate. The science demonstrates that biological effects can occur at power levels regulators dismiss as harmless, and these effects can persist long after exposure ends.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.00013 - 0.00933 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
2 Hours

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.00013 - 0.00933 W/kgExtreme Concern0.1 W/kgFCC Limit1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the No Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 12,308x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The purpose of this study is to observe the Electromagnetic fields at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) trigger the onset of general stress response along with DNA modifications in Eisenia fetida earthworms

Eisenia fetida earthworms were exposed to electromagnetic field (EMF) at a mobile phone frequency (9...

All exposure treatments induced significant DNA modifications as assessed by a quantitative random a...

Cite This Study
Bourdineaud JP, Šrut M, Štambuk A, Tkalec M, Brèthes D, Malarić K, Klobučar GIV (2017). Electromagnetic fields at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) trigger the onset of general stress response along with DNA modifications in Eisenia fetida earthworms Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 68(2):142-152, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{jp_2017_electromagnetic_fields_at_a_514,
  author = {Bourdineaud JP and Šrut M and Štambuk A and Tkalec M and Brèthes D and Malarić K and Klobučar GIV},
  title = {Electromagnetic fields at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) trigger the onset of general stress response along with DNA modifications in Eisenia fetida earthworms},
  year = {2017},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28665795/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Earthworms exposed to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for two hours showed DNA damage and stress responses lasting 24+ hours. The radiation levels were 100 times weaker than safety limits, yet still caused genetic changes, suggesting brief low-level EMF exposure creates lasting biological effects.