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DNA & Genetic Damage

No Evidence for Genotoxic Effects from 24 h Exposure of Human Leukocytes to 1.9 GHz Radiofrequency Fields

No Effects Found

McNamee, J. P., Bellier, P. V., Gajda, G. B., Lavallee, B. F., Marro, L., Lemay, E. and Thansandote, A · 2003

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Human blood cells showed no DNA damage after 24-hour exposure to cell phone-type radiation at levels five times higher than phone limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human white blood cells to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to what cell phones emit) for 24 hours at power levels up to 10 watts per kilogram. They found no DNA damage or genetic changes in the cells, even after this extended exposure period at levels much higher than typical phone use.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.90 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.90 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 1.9 GHz RF Duration: 24 h

Study Details

To analyze no Evidence for Genotoxic Effects from 24 h Exposure of Human Leukocytes to 1.9 GHz Radiofrequency Fields

The current study extends our previous investigations of 2-h radiofrequency (RF)-field exposures on ...

No significant differences in primary DNA damage were observed between the sham-treated controls and...

. In conclusion, the current study found no evidence of 1.9 GHz RF-field-induced genotoxicity in human blood cell cultures after a 24-h exposure period.

Cite This Study
McNamee, J. P., Bellier, P. V., Gajda, G. B., Lavallee, B. F., Marro, L., Lemay, E. and Thansandote, A (2003). No Evidence for Genotoxic Effects from 24 h Exposure of Human Leukocytes to 1.9 GHz Radiofrequency Fields Radiat Res 159:693-697, 2003.
Show BibTeX
@article{mcnamee_2003_no_evidence_for_genotoxic_3240,
  author = {McNamee and J. P. and Bellier and P. V. and Gajda and G. B. and Lavallee and B. F. and Marro and L. and Lemay and E. and Thansandote and A},
  title = {No Evidence for Genotoxic Effects from 24 h Exposure of Human Leukocytes to 1.9 GHz Radiofrequency Fields},
  year = {2003},
  
  url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/159/5/693/332032/No-Evidence-for-Genotoxic-Effects-from-24-h},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2003 study found no DNA damage in human white blood cells exposed to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation for 24 hours. Researchers tested power levels up to 10 watts per kilogram, far higher than typical cell phone use, with no genetic changes detected.
Research shows 24-hour exposure to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency fields caused no harm to human blood cells. The study tested both continuous and pulsed radiation at high power levels, finding no DNA damage or changes in cell division patterns.
Scientists tested 1.9 GHz radiation at power levels up to 10 watts per kilogram in human white blood cells. This exposure level is much higher than normal cell phone use, yet no DNA damage or genetic effects were observed after 24 hours.
A study exposing human white blood cells to 1.9 GHz radiation for 24 hours found no damage to immune cells. Researchers used the comet assay and micronucleus test to detect DNA damage, finding no differences between exposed and control cells.
No difference was found between pulsed and continuous 1.9 GHz radiation effects on human blood cells. Both signal types were tested for 24 hours at high power levels, with neither causing DNA damage or affecting cell division processes.