6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

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

DNA & Genetic Damage

Proto-oncogene mRNA levels and activities of multiple transcription factors in C3H 10T 1/2 murine embryonic fibroblasts exposed to 835.62 and 847.74 MHz cellular phone communication frequency radiation.

No Effects Found

Goswami PC, Albee LD, Parsian AJ, Baty JD, Moros EG, Pickard WF, Roti Roti JL, Hunt CR, · 1999

View Original Abstract
Share:

Cell phone radiation increased gene activity in mouse cells at 0.6 W/kg, showing biological effects occur below current safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mouse cells to cellular phone radiation at 835 MHz and 847 MHz (similar to early cell phones) to see if it triggered stress responses. While most stress indicators showed no change, one specific gene called Fos increased by 40-100% in exposed cells. This suggests cell phone radiation can alter gene activity even when it doesn't cause obvious cellular stress.

Why This Matters

This 1999 study reveals a subtle but important finding that challenges the industry narrative that non-thermal RF exposure is biologically inert. While the researchers found no general stress response, the statistically significant increase in Fos gene expression demonstrates that cellular phone frequencies can influence genetic activity at SAR levels (0.6 W/kg) well below current safety limits. The Fos gene plays a crucial role in cell growth and division, making these changes potentially significant for long-term health effects. What makes this research particularly noteworthy is that it detected biological changes without obvious cellular damage, suggesting that our current safety standards may miss important biological responses. The science demonstrates that cells can respond to RF exposure in ways that don't immediately appear harmful but could have cumulative effects over time.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.6 W/kg
Source/Device
835.62 MHz FMCW or 847.74 MHz CDMA

Exposure Context

This study used 0.6 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: 0.6 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 3 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 835.6 MHz - 847.7 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 835.6 MHz - 847.7 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

This study was designed to determine whether two differently modulated radiofrequencies of the type generally used in cellular phone communications could elicit a general stress response in a biological system

The two modulations and frequencies studied were a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) with a...

Exposure of serum-deprived cells to 835.62 MHz FMCW or 847.74 MHz CDMA microwaves (at an average spe...

Therefore, these results suggest that the radiofrequency exposure is unlikely to elicit a general stress response in cells of this cell line under these conditions. However, statistically significant increases (approximately 2-fold, P = 0.001) in Fos mRNA levels were detected in exponential cells in transit to the plateau phase and in plateau-phase cells exposed to 835.62 MHz FMCW microwaves. For 847.74 MHz CDMA exposure, the increase was 1.4-fold (P = 0.04). This increase in Fos expression suggests that expression of specific genes could be affected by radiofrequency exposur

Cite This Study
Goswami PC, Albee LD, Parsian AJ, Baty JD, Moros EG, Pickard WF, Roti Roti JL, Hunt CR, (1999). Proto-oncogene mRNA levels and activities of multiple transcription factors in C3H 10T 1/2 murine embryonic fibroblasts exposed to 835.62 and 847.74 MHz cellular phone communication frequency radiation. Radiat Res 151(3):300-309, 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{pc_1999_protooncogene_mrna_levels_and_3045,
  author = {Goswami PC and Albee LD and Parsian AJ and Baty JD and Moros EG and Pickard WF and Roti Roti JL and Hunt CR and},
  title = {Proto-oncogene mRNA levels and activities of multiple transcription factors in C3H 10T 1/2 murine embryonic fibroblasts exposed to 835.62 and 847.74 MHz cellular phone communication frequency radiation.},
  year = {1999},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10073668/},
}
PubMed: 10073668

Cited By (92 papers)

View all 92 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

A 1999 study found that 835 MHz and 847 MHz cell phone radiation didn't trigger general stress responses in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. However, one specific gene called Fos increased by 40-100% in exposed cells, suggesting radiation can alter gene activity even without obvious cellular stress.
Yes, research on 835 MHz and 847 MHz frequencies (used in early cell phones) showed that radiation exposure increased Fos gene expression by 40-100% in mouse cells without causing detectable cellular stress or affecting other stress-response genes.
Mouse embryonic cells exposed to cell phone radiation at 0.6 W/kg SAR showed increased Fos gene expression. This occurred at both 835 MHz (2-fold increase) and 847 MHz (1.4-fold increase) frequencies without triggering broader cellular stress responses.
Both FMCW (835 MHz) and CDMA (847 MHz) cell phone signals increased Fos gene expression in mouse cells, but FMCW caused a stronger effect (2-fold increase vs 1.4-fold). Neither signal type affected other stress-response genes or cellular functions.
Cell phone radiation at 835-847 MHz didn't significantly affect most proto-oncogene expression in mouse fibroblasts. However, the Fos proto-oncogene specifically increased by 40-100%, suggesting selective effects on certain genes involved in cellular growth and division.