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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Cancer & Tumors

The effect of chronic exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiofrequency radiation on the incidence of spontaneous tumors in rats.

No Effects Found

La Regina M, Moros EG, Pickard WF, Straube WL, Baty J, Roti Roti JL. · 2003

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Two-year rat study found no cancer increase from cell phone radiation at brain exposure levels similar to typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 480 rats to cell phone radiation for 4 hours daily over 2 years to see if it caused cancer. They tested two types of signals (FDMA and CDMA) at levels similar to what your brain absorbs during phone calls. The study found no increase in tumors of any type compared to unexposed rats.

Why This Matters

This 2003 study represents one of the more comprehensive long-term animal studies on cell phone radiation and cancer risk. The exposure levels (1.3 W/kg SAR) were within the range of what your brain experiences during typical cell phone use, making the results directly relevant to everyday exposure. However, this negative finding must be viewed alongside the growing body of evidence showing biological effects from RF radiation. The reality is that cancer studies in animals face inherent limitations - they use specific strains, controlled environments, and may not capture the complex, multi-factorial nature of human cancer development. What this means for you is that while this study provides some reassurance, it doesn't definitively prove cell phone safety, especially given that other well-designed studies have found increased tumor rates in similar animal models.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.85 +/- 0.34, 1.3 +/- 0.5 W/kg
Source/Device
835.62, 847.74 MHz
Exposure Duration
4 h per day, 5 days per week over 2 years

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.85 +/- 0.34, 1.3 +/- 0.5 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 5 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 847.7 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 847.7 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This study was designed to determine whether chronic exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation from cellular phones increased the incidence of spontaneous tumors in F344 rats.

Eighty male and 80 female rats were randomly placed in each of three irradiation groups. The sham gr...

This number was an average from several measurement locations inside the brain, and it takes into ac...

We conclude that chronic exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA RF radiation had no significant effect on the incidence of spontaneous tumors in F344 rats.

Cite This Study
La Regina M, Moros EG, Pickard WF, Straube WL, Baty J, Roti Roti JL. (2003). The effect of chronic exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiofrequency radiation on the incidence of spontaneous tumors in rats. Radiat Res. 160(2):143-151, 2003.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2003_the_effect_of_chronic_3170,
  author = {La Regina M and Moros EG and Pickard WF and Straube WL and Baty J and Roti Roti JL.},
  title = {The effect of chronic exposure to 835.62 MHz FDMA or 847.74 MHz CDMA radiofrequency radiation on the incidence of spontaneous tumors in rats.},
  year = {2003},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12859224/},
}
PubMed: 12859224

Cited By (61 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 2003 study found no cancer increase in rats exposed to cell phone radiation for 2 years. Researchers exposed 480 rats to FDMA and CDMA signals 4 hours daily at brain-absorption levels similar to phone calls, with no significant tumor differences.
Research shows CDMA radiation did not cause tumors in laboratory rats. A long-term study exposed rats to 847.74 MHz CDMA signals for 2 years and found no significant differences in tumor rates compared to unexposed animals.
A 2-year rat study found 835 MHz FDMA radiation caused no health effects. Researchers exposed rats to this frequency 4 hours daily and detected no increases in tumors or changes in survival rates compared to control groups.
Laboratory research on cell phone frequencies shows mixed results. One major 2-year study found no cancer risk from 835 MHz and 847 MHz signals in rats, though other studies have reported different findings requiring further investigation.
Daily cell phone radiation exposure showed no tumor effects in a controlled rat study. Animals received 4 hours of daily exposure for 2 years at levels mimicking human brain absorption during calls, with no significant tumor increases observed.