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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

Effects of mobile phone radiation on x-ray-induced tumorigenesis in mice.

No Effects Found

Heikkinen P, Kosma VM, Hongisto T, Huuskonen H, Hyysalo P, Komulainen H, Kumlin T, Lahtinen T, Lang S, Puranen L, Juutilainen J. · 2001

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Mobile phone radiation at typical exposure levels did not promote cancer growth in mice over 78 weeks of daily exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Finnish researchers exposed mice to both X-rays (to initiate cancer) and mobile phone radiation for 78 weeks to see if RF radiation would promote tumor growth. The study tested two types of phone signals - continuous NMT at 1.5 W/kg SAR and pulsed GSM at 0.35 W/kg SAR. Neither type of mobile phone radiation increased cancer rates compared to control groups, suggesting RF radiation does not act as a tumor promoter in this animal model.

Why This Matters

This study addresses a critical question in EMF research: whether mobile phone radiation can promote cancer growth even if it doesn't directly cause DNA damage. The researchers used a clever approach, first exposing mice to X-rays to initiate cancer, then testing whether RF radiation would accelerate tumor development. The SAR levels tested (0.35-1.5 W/kg) are comparable to what your head absorbs during phone calls, making these results relevant to real-world exposure. While this single study found no tumor promotion effects, the science demonstrates that cancer development is complex and may require longer observation periods or different biological models. What this means for you: these findings contribute to a mixed body of evidence on RF radiation and cancer, but they don't definitively settle the safety question given the limitations of animal studies and the relatively short human history with mobile phones.

Exposure Details

SAR
1.5 W/kg
Source/Device
902.5 MHz
Exposure Duration
1.5 h per day, 5 days a week for 78 weeks

Exposure Context

This study used 1.5 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1.5 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 902.5 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 902.5 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

In the current study, we evaluated the effect of low-level RF radiation on the development of cancer initiated in mice by ionizing radiation.

Two hundred female CBA/S mice were randomized into four equal groups at the age of 3 to 5 weeks. The...

The RF-radiation exposures did not increase the incidence of any neoplastic lesion significantly.

We conclude that the results do not provide evidence for cancer promotion by RF radiation emitted by mobile phones.

Cite This Study
Heikkinen P, Kosma VM, Hongisto T, Huuskonen H, Hyysalo P, Komulainen H, Kumlin T, Lahtinen T, Lang S, Puranen L, Juutilainen J. (2001). Effects of mobile phone radiation on x-ray-induced tumorigenesis in mice. Radiat Res 156(6):775-785, 2001.
Show BibTeX
@article{p_2001_effects_of_mobile_phone_3071,
  author = {Heikkinen P and Kosma VM and Hongisto T and Huuskonen H and Hyysalo P and Komulainen H and Kumlin T and Lahtinen T and Lang S and Puranen L and Juutilainen J.},
  title = {Effects of mobile phone radiation on x-ray-induced tumorigenesis in mice.},
  year = {2001},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11741502/},
}
PubMed: 11741502

Cited By (63 papers)

View all 63 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

No, Finnish researchers found that 902.5 MHz mobile phone radiation did not promote tumor growth in mice over 78 weeks. The study exposed mice to both X-rays and RF radiation, but neither continuous NMT nor pulsed GSM signals increased cancer rates compared to controls.
Research shows GSM radiation at 0.35 W/kg SAR does not accelerate cancer development. In a 78-week study, mice exposed to both cancer-causing X-rays and pulsed GSM signals showed no increased tumor rates, indicating RF radiation doesn't act as a tumor promoter.
A 2001 Finnish study found no evidence that NMT radiation at 1.5 W/kg promotes cancer. Mice exposed to continuous NMT signals for 78 weeks after X-ray treatment showed no increased tumor development compared to unexposed animals.
Neither analog NMT nor digital GSM cell phone signals promoted cancer in animal studies. Research comparing continuous NMT (1.5 W/kg) and pulsed GSM (0.35 W/kg) radiation found no significant increase in tumor rates for either signal type over 78 weeks.
Mice were exposed to 902.5 MHz mobile phone radiation for 78 weeks in Finnish cancer research. Despite this extended exposure period combined with cancer-initiating X-rays, researchers found no evidence that RF radiation increased tumor development or cancer rates.