[Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro.]
Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. · 2006
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation causes permanent DNA damage in eye cells at 4 W/kg, just twice current safety limits.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation for 2 hours at different power levels to see if it damages DNA. They found that lower exposure levels (up to 3 W/kg) caused temporary DNA breaks that the cells could repair, but higher exposure (4 W/kg) caused permanent DNA damage that cells couldn't fix.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a critical threshold effect in cellular DNA damage from radiofrequency radiation. The finding that permanent, irreparable DNA damage occurs at 4 W/kg SAR is particularly concerning given that current safety limits allow up to 2 W/kg for cell phones in most countries. What makes this research especially relevant is its focus on eye lens cells, which are directly in the radiation path during phone calls and receive minimal blood flow to help repair cellular damage. The science demonstrates a clear dose-response relationship where the body's natural repair mechanisms become overwhelmed at higher exposure levels. While 4 W/kg exceeds typical phone SAR values, it's within range of some devices and highlights how current safety standards may not account for the body's repair capacity limits.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 hours
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To investigate the DNA damage of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) caused by acute exposure to low-power 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation and DNA repair.
Cultured LECs were exposed to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation at SAR (specific absorpti...
The difference in DNA-breaks between the exposure and sham exposure groups induced by 1 and 2 W/kg i...
No or repairable DNA damage was observed after 2 hour irradiation of 1.8 GHz microwave on LECs when SAR < or = 3 W/kg. The DNA damages caused by 4 W/kg irradiation were irreversible.
Show BibTeX
@article{lx_2006_effect_of_acute_exposure_773,
author = {Sun LX and Yao K and He JL and Lu DQ and Wang KJ and Li HW.},
title = {[Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro.]},
year = {2006},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/16978512},
}