8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
DNA & Genetic Damage

Combinative exposure effect of radio frequency signals from CDMA mobile phones and aphidicolin on DNA integrity.

Bioeffects Seen

Tiwari R, Lakshmi NK, Surender V, Rajesh AD, Bhargava SC, Ahuja YR. · 2008

View Original Abstract
Share:

Mobile phone radiation causes DNA damage that cells can repair, but this damage becomes significant when cellular repair systems are impaired.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed blood samples from six healthy men to radio frequency signals from CDMA mobile phones for one hour, then tested for DNA damage using a technique called the comet assay. They found that while RF exposure alone didn't cause significant DNA damage, it did enhance DNA breaks when combined with a chemical that interferes with DNA repair. This suggests that mobile phone radiation may cause DNA damage that cells can normally repair, but problems could arise when repair mechanisms are compromised.

Why This Matters

This study reveals a concerning pattern we see repeatedly in EMF research: RF radiation from mobile phones can cause DNA damage, even when that damage appears repairable under normal conditions. The researchers used aphidicolin (APC), a chemical that blocks DNA repair, to reveal damage that would otherwise be masked by the cell's natural repair processes. What this means for you is that your cells may be working overtime to repair RF-induced DNA damage from your phone use. While healthy cells can typically handle this repair burden, the concern is what happens when your cellular repair systems are compromised by age, illness, stress, or other environmental toxins. The science demonstrates that RF exposure isn't as benign as the wireless industry claims, even at the cellular level where damage may be occurring and getting repaired without your knowledge.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 1 and 2 hours

Study Details

The aim of present study is to assess DNA integrity on the effect of exposure to a radio frequency (RF) signal from Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile phones.

Whole blood samples from six healthy male individuals were exposed for RF signals from a CDMA mobile...

The RF signals and APC (0.2 microg/ml) alone or in synergism did not have any significant DNA damage...

From these results, it appears that the repair inhibitor APC enhances DNA breaks at 2 microg/ml concentration and that the damage is possibly repairable. Thus, it can be inferred that the in vitro exposure to RF signals induces reversible DNA damage in synergism with APC.

Cite This Study
Tiwari R, Lakshmi NK, Surender V, Rajesh AD, Bhargava SC, Ahuja YR. (2008). Combinative exposure effect of radio frequency signals from CDMA mobile phones and aphidicolin on DNA integrity. Electromagn Biol Med 27:418-425, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2008_combinative_exposure_effect_of_1798,
  author = {Tiwari R and Lakshmi NK and Surender V and Rajesh AD and Bhargava SC and Ahuja YR.},
  title = {Combinative exposure effect of radio frequency signals from CDMA mobile phones and aphidicolin on DNA integrity.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19037791/},
}
PubMed: 19037791

Cited By (14 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2008 study found that CDMA mobile phone radiation significantly enhanced DNA breaks when combined with aphidicolin, a chemical that blocks DNA repair. While RF exposure alone caused no damage, it became harmful when cellular repair mechanisms were compromised.
Research suggests yes. A study exposing blood samples to CDMA phone signals for one hour found the radiation induced reversible DNA damage that cells could normally repair. However, when repair processes were inhibited, significant DNA breaks occurred.
When DNA repair mechanisms are inhibited by chemicals like aphidicolin, mobile phone radiation exposure causes significantly more DNA breaks in blood cells. The 2008 study showed this combinative effect was statistically significant compared to radiation alone.
No, one hour of CDMA mobile phone radiation exposure alone did not cause significant DNA damage in blood samples from healthy men. The damage only became apparent when cellular DNA repair mechanisms were chemically blocked during exposure.
Aphidicolin, a DNA repair inhibitor, dramatically enhances DNA damage from mobile phone radiation. While CDMA signals alone caused no significant breaks, combining them with aphidicolin at specific concentrations produced statistically significant DNA damage in blood cells.