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Changes in cellular proteins due to environmental non-ionizing radiation. I. Heat-shock protiens

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S. Kwee, P. Raskmark & S. Velizarov · 2001

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Cells produced stress proteins from cell phone-type radiation at levels 800 times below safety limits, suggesting non-thermal biological effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Danish researchers exposed human cells to weak 960 MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phones) at extremely low power levels for 20 minutes. They found that cells produced significantly more heat-shock proteins (Hsp-70), which are cellular stress markers, even though the radiation was too weak to cause any heating. This suggests that cells can detect and respond to radiofrequency radiation through non-thermal biological mechanisms.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that cells respond to radiofrequency radiation through mechanisms that have nothing to do with heating. The exposure level of 2.1 mW/kg is roughly 800 times lower than current safety limits, yet still triggered a measurable stress response in human cells. Heat-shock proteins are the cellular equivalent of an alarm system - they're produced when cells detect threats to their normal function. The fact that cells activated this stress response at such low power levels challenges the fundamental assumption underlying current safety standards: that RF radiation is only harmful when it heats tissue. What this means for you is that your cell phone may be triggering cellular stress responses even during normal use, since typical phone exposures can be 100 times higher than what caused effects in this study.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.0021 W/kg
Source/Device
960 Mhz
Exposure Duration
20 min

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.0021 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Slight Concern rangeFCC limit is 762x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 960 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 960 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This paper describes the effect of weak microwave fields on the amounts of heat-shock proteins in cell cultures at various temperatures.

The field was generated by signal simulation of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) of...

The heat-shock proteins Hsp-70 and Hsp-27 were detected by immuno-fluorescence. Higher amounts of Hs...

Cite This Study
S. Kwee, P. Raskmark & S. Velizarov (2001). Changes in cellular proteins due to environmental non-ionizing radiation. I. Heat-shock protiens 2001. Electro- and Magnetobiology, 20:2, 141-152, DOI: 10.1081/JBC-100104139.
Show BibTeX
@article{kwee_2001_changes_in_cellular_proteins_1069,
  author = {S. Kwee and P. Raskmark & S. Velizarov},
  title = {Changes in cellular proteins due to environmental non-ionizing radiation. I. Heat-shock protiens},
  year = {2001},
  doi = {10.1081/JBC-100104139},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1081/JBC-100104139},
}
DOI: 10.1081/JBC-100104139

Cited By (107 papers)

View all 107 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, Danish researchers found that 960 MHz microwave radiation at extremely low power levels caused human cells to produce significantly more heat-shock proteins (Hsp-70), which are cellular stress markers. This occurred even though the radiation was too weak to cause any heating effects.
Yes, a 2001 study found that just 20 minutes of exposure to weak 960 MHz microwave radiation significantly increased Hsp-70 heat shock protein production in human cells. These proteins serve as cellular stress indicators and increased even at non-thermal power levels.
Hsp-70 heat shock proteins increase significantly when human cells are exposed to 960 MHz microwave radiation similar to cell phones. Danish researchers detected higher amounts of these cellular stress markers using immuno-fluorescence techniques, even at extremely low, non-heating power levels.
Yes, research shows that 960 MHz microwave radiation can trigger biological responses in human cells even when field strength is much lower than safety standards for heat generation. Cells produced more stress proteins despite the radiation being too weak to cause heating.
Yes, a 2001 Danish study demonstrated that 960 MHz microwave radiation causes non-thermal biological effects by increasing heat-shock protein production in human cells. These cellular stress responses occurred at power levels far below those that would generate heat.