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DNA damage in Molt-4 T- lymphoblastoid cells exposed to cellular telephone radiofrequency fields in vitro.

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Phillips, J.L., Ivaschuk, O., Ishida-Jones, T., Jones, R.A., Campbell-Beachler, M. and Haggren, W. · 1998

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Cell phone radiation altered DNA in immune cells at power levels 100 times below current safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed immune system cells to radiofrequency radiation from cell phone signals at extremely low power levels for 2 to 21 hours. They found that very low exposures actually reduced DNA damage, while slightly higher exposures increased DNA breaks in the cellular genetic material. This suggests that even minimal RF radiation can alter DNA integrity in immune cells, though the effects varied depending on the specific exposure level.

Why This Matters

This study reveals something crucial that the wireless industry prefers you don't know: even at power levels far below current safety limits, cell phone radiation can measurably alter DNA in immune system cells. The exposures used here (0.0024 to 0.024 watts per kilogram) are roughly 100 times lower than the SAR limits your phone is allowed to emit. What makes this research particularly significant is the non-linear dose response - meaning more exposure doesn't always equal more damage, but rather that biological systems can react unpredictably to RF radiation at any level. The fact that these effects occurred in T-lymphocytes, critical immune system cells that help fight infections and cancer, raises important questions about long-term health consequences. While the study shows both increases and decreases in DNA damage depending on exposure levels, any alteration of genetic material in immune cells deserves serious attention from regulators and consumers alike.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.0024, 0.024 W/kg
Source/Device
813.5625 MHz (iDEN)
Exposure Duration
2 h and 21 h

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.0024, 0.024 W/kgExtreme Concern0.1 W/kgFCC Limit1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 667x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The aim of this study is to observe DNA damage in Molt-4 T- lymphoblastoid cells exposed to cellular telephone radiofrequency fields in vitro.

Molt-4 T-lymphoblastoid cells have been exposed to pulsed signals at cellular telephone frequencies ...

It was found that: 1) exposure of cells to the iDEN® signal at an SAR of 2.4 μW g−1 for 2 h or 21 h ...

The data indicate a need to study the effects of exposure to RF signals on direct DNA damage and on the rate at which DNA damage is repaired.

Cite This Study
Phillips, J.L., Ivaschuk, O., Ishida-Jones, T., Jones, R.A., Campbell-Beachler, M. and Haggren, W. (1998). DNA damage in Molt-4 T- lymphoblastoid cells exposed to cellular telephone radiofrequency fields in vitro. Bioelectrochem. Bioenerg. 45:103-110, 1998.
Show BibTeX
@article{phillips_1998_dna_damage_in_molt4_768,
  author = {Phillips and J.L. and Ivaschuk and O. and Ishida-Jones and T. and Jones and R.A. and Campbell-Beachler and M. and Haggren and W.},
  title = {DNA damage in Molt-4 T- lymphoblastoid cells exposed to cellular telephone radiofrequency fields in vitro.},
  year = {1998},
  
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0302459898000749},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed immune system cells to radiofrequency radiation from cell phone signals at extremely low power levels for 2 to 21 hours. They found that very low exposures actually reduced DNA damage, while slightly higher exposures increased DNA breaks in the cellular genetic material. This suggests that even minimal RF radiation can alter DNA integrity in immune cells, though the effects varied depending on the specific exposure level.