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Cardiovascular

Membrane potential and currents of isolated heart muscle cells exposed to pulsed radio frequency fields.

No Effects Found

Linz, KW, von Westphalen, C, Streckert, J, Hansen, V, Meyer, R, · 1999

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Heart muscle cells showed no electrical changes when exposed to cell phone radiation up to 880 mW/kg in laboratory conditions.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

German researchers exposed isolated heart muscle cells from guinea pigs and rats to cell phone frequencies (900 MHz and 1800 MHz) to see if radio waves affected the cells' electrical activity. They found no significant changes to the heart cells' membrane potential, action potentials, or calcium and potassium currents even at exposure levels up to 880 mW/kg. The study suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels does not directly disrupt the basic electrical functions of heart muscle cells.

Why This Matters

This 1999 study provides important baseline data on how heart muscle cells respond to cell phone radiation at the cellular level. The researchers tested SAR levels ranging from 0.08 to 0.88 W/kg, which spans from well below to slightly above typical cell phone exposures (modern phones average 0.5-1.6 W/kg). While the lack of observed effects might seem reassuring, we must consider this study's limitations. First, it examined isolated cells rather than intact heart tissue with its complex network of electrical conduction. Second, the exposures were acute rather than the chronic, repeated exposures we experience daily. The science demonstrates that cellular studies, while valuable for understanding mechanisms, don't always predict whole-organism responses. What this means for you is that while this study didn't find immediate electrical disruption in heart cells, it doesn't rule out other potential cardiovascular effects from long-term EMF exposure that have been suggested in population studies.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.08, 0.48, 0.6, 0.72, 0.88 W/kg
Source/Device
1800 MHz

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.08, 0.48, 0.6, 0.72, 0.88 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 20 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.80 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.80 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The influence of radio frequency (RF) fields of 180, 900, and 1800 MHz on the membrane potential, action potential, L-type Ca(2+) current and potassium currents of isolated ventricular myocytes was tested.

The study is based on 90 guinea-pig myocytes and 20 rat myocytes. The fields were applied in rectang...

None of the tested electrophysiological parameters was changed significantly by exposure to RF field...

Cite This Study
Linz, KW, von Westphalen, C, Streckert, J, Hansen, V, Meyer, R, (1999). Membrane potential and currents of isolated heart muscle cells exposed to pulsed radio frequency fields. Bioelectromagnetics 20(8):497-511, 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{linz_1999_membrane_potential_and_currents_3200,
  author = {Linz and KW and von Westphalen and C and Streckert and J and Hansen and V and Meyer and R and},
  title = {Membrane potential and currents of isolated heart muscle cells exposed to pulsed radio frequency fields.},
  year = {1999},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10559771/},
}
PubMed: 10559771

Cited By (34 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

German researchers found that 1800 MHz cell phone radiation does not directly affect heart muscle cells. They exposed isolated guinea pig and rat heart cells to radiation up to 880 mW/kg and found no significant changes to electrical activity, membrane potential, or calcium currents.
A 1999 study found that 900 MHz radiation does not disrupt heart cell electrical activity. Researchers exposed isolated heart muscle cells to this frequency and detected no significant changes to action potentials or ion currents, even at exposure levels of 250 mW/kg.
Guinea pig heart cells showed no response to cell phone frequencies in laboratory testing. German researchers exposed isolated guinea pig heart muscle cells to both 900 MHz and 1800 MHz radiation and found no significant changes to any electrical parameters measured.
Heart cells show no significant changes at 880 mW/kg radiation exposure. A 1999 study exposed isolated heart muscle cells from guinea pigs and rats to this high level of 1800 MHz radiation and found no effects on membrane potential or calcium currents.
Temperature changes affect heart cells dramatically, but 900 MHz radiation does not. Researchers found that lowering temperature from 36°C to 24°C reduced calcium current by 50%, yet even at this lower temperature, 900 MHz radiation at 250 mW/kg caused no detectable effects.