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Reproductive Health

Effects of gestational exposure to 1.95-GHz W-CDMA signals for IMT-2000 cellular phones: Lack of embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in rats.

No Effects Found

Ogawa K, Nabae K, Wang J, Wake K, Watanabe S, Kawabe M, Fujiwara O, Takahashi S, Ichihara T, Tamano S, Shirai T · 2009

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This study found no pregnancy or developmental effects from cell phone radiation at levels exceeding typical exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed pregnant rats to cell phone radiation (1.95-GHz signals) for 90 minutes daily during pregnancy to see if it would harm developing babies. They tested different exposure levels, including some higher than typical cell phone use, and found no effects on pregnancy outcomes, fetal development, or birth defects. The study suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels doesn't appear to cause developmental problems during pregnancy.

Why This Matters

This study provides reassuring evidence regarding cell phone use during pregnancy, examining exposure levels that exceed typical user scenarios. The researchers used SAR levels up to 7.0 W/kg in brain tissue, which is significantly higher than the 2.0 W/kg limit for cell phones in most countries. While this negative result is valuable, it represents just one study in the broader landscape of EMF research on reproductive health. The reality is that pregnancy represents a uniquely vulnerable developmental window, and while this particular study found no effects, the scientific community continues to investigate potential subtle or long-term impacts that might not be captured in traditional toxicology studies. What this means for you is that current evidence doesn't suggest immediate concern about cell phone use during pregnancy, but pregnant women may still choose to minimize exposure as a precautionary measure given the critical nature of fetal development.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.67 and 2.0 , 3.1 and 7.0, 0.4 W/kg
Source/Device
1.95-GHz
Exposure Duration
90 min/day

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.67 and 2.0 , 3.1 and 7.0, 0.4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 4 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.95 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.95 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The present study was designed to evaluate whether gestational exposure to an EMF targeting the head region, similar to that from cellular phones, might affect embryogenesis in rats.

A 1.95-GHz wide-band code division multiple access (W-CDMA) signal, which is one applied for the Int...

There were no differences in maternal body weight gain. No adverse effects of EMF exposure were obs...

Cite This Study
Ogawa K, Nabae K, Wang J, Wake K, Watanabe S, Kawabe M, Fujiwara O, Takahashi S, Ichihara T, Tamano S, Shirai T (2009). Effects of gestational exposure to 1.95-GHz W-CDMA signals for IMT-2000 cellular phones: Lack of embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in rats. Bioelectromagnetics. 30(3):205-212, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2009_effects_of_gestational_exposure_3280,
  author = {Ogawa K and Nabae K and Wang J and Wake K and Watanabe S and Kawabe M and Fujiwara O and Takahashi S and Ichihara T and Tamano S and Shirai T},
  title = {Effects of gestational exposure to 1.95-GHz W-CDMA signals for IMT-2000 cellular phones: Lack of embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in rats.},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20456},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20456},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20456

Cited By (43 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2009 study found that 1.95-GHz W-CDMA cell phone radiation exposure during pregnancy caused no harmful effects in rats. Researchers exposed pregnant rats to this specific frequency for 90 minutes daily throughout pregnancy and observed no differences in birth outcomes, fetal development, or birth defects compared to unexposed animals.
Research on W-CDMA radiation (1.95-GHz frequency) found no evidence of birth defects or developmental problems. A controlled study exposed pregnant rats to this radiation throughout pregnancy and found no differences in external, visceral, or skeletal abnormalities compared to unexposed groups.
A study testing 90-minute daily exposure to 1.95-GHz cell phone radiation during pregnancy found no harm to developing offspring. Researchers observed no effects on fetal weights, survival rates, or developmental abnormalities, even at exposure levels higher than typical cell phone use.
Research shows that 1.95-GHz W-CDMA radiation exposure does not affect maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Pregnant rats exposed to this cell phone frequency for 90 minutes daily throughout pregnancy showed no differences in body weight gain compared to unexposed mothers.
Studies on IMT-2000 cellular frequencies (1.95-GHz W-CDMA) suggest they are safe during pregnancy. Research found no adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, including no changes in live birth rates, fetal development, placental weights, or sex ratios when mothers were exposed throughout pregnancy.