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Effects of 2.45-GHz microwave radiation and phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice.

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Wu RY, Chiang H, Shao BJ, Li NG, Fu YD · 1994

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2.45 GHz microwave radiation at levels 100 times higher than typical WiFi exposure did not promote colon cancer in mice.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in WiFi and microwave ovens) for 3 hours daily over 5 months to see if it would accelerate colon cancer development. The mice were also given a known cancer-causing chemical. The microwave radiation did not increase cancer rates or make tumors worse compared to the chemical alone.

Why This Matters

This study provides important data on whether 2.45 GHz radiation - the frequency emitted by WiFi routers, Bluetooth devices, and microwave ovens - can act as a cancer promoter. The exposure level of 10 mW/cm² is significantly higher than typical WiFi exposure (around 0.1 mW/cm² at close range), making this a fairly aggressive test of the cancer promotion hypothesis. The finding that microwave radiation did not accelerate colon cancer development, even at these elevated levels, adds to our understanding of RF radiation's biological effects. However, this was a relatively short-term study in young mice, and cancer promotion can be a complex, multi-stage process. The science demonstrates that while this particular exposure scenario didn't promote colon cancer, we shouldn't interpret this as blanket reassurance about all RF exposures and all cancer types.

Exposure Details

SAR
10 to 12 W/kg
Power Density
10 µW/m²
Source/Device
2.45 GHz
Exposure Duration
3 hr daily, 6 days per week, over a period of 5 months

Exposure Context

This study used 10 µW/m² for radio frequency:

This study used 10 to 12 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: 10 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit - 10M uW/m2Effects observed in the Severe Concern rangeFCC limit is 1,000,000x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.45 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.45 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation on dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon cancer in mice.

The subjects were 115 Balb/c mice 4 weeks of age. The animals were divided into group A (control), g...

The incidence of tumors did not significantly differ between the three test groups (groups B, C, and...

The study indicates that 2.45 GHz microwave radiation at 10 mW/cm2 power density did not promote DMH-induced colon cancers in young mice. The study also showed that TPA could accelerate colon tumor production if a tumor was initiated.

Cite This Study
Wu RY, Chiang H, Shao BJ, Li NG, Fu YD (1994). Effects of 2.45-GHz microwave radiation and phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice. Bioelectromagnetics 15(6):531-538, 1994.
Show BibTeX
@article{ry_1994_effects_of_245ghz_microwave_1435,
  author = {Wu RY and Chiang H and Shao BJ and Li NG and Fu YD},
  title = {Effects of 2.45-GHz microwave radiation and phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice.},
  year = {1994},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7880166/},
}
PubMed: 7880166

Cited By (57 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 1994 study found that 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency as WiFi) did not increase colon cancer rates in mice exposed for 3 hours daily over 5 months. The radiation did not make existing tumors worse compared to cancer-causing chemicals alone.
Research using 2.45 GHz radiation (microwave oven frequency) showed no increased cancer development in laboratory mice. The study exposed animals for 3 hours daily over 5 months and found no difference in tumor rates compared to unexposed groups.
A controlled study found that 2.4 GHz microwave radiation did not promote colon cancer development in mice. Despite 5 months of daily 3-hour exposure, researchers observed no significant increase in tumor incidence or severity compared to control groups.
Based on animal research, WiFi's 2.45 GHz frequency did not increase cancer risk during a 5-month exposure study. Mice receiving daily radiation exposure showed no higher tumor rates than unexposed animals, suggesting minimal cancer-promoting effects at tested levels.
Laboratory studies indicate that 2.45 GHz microwave radiation does not accelerate tumor growth or development. Mice exposed to this frequency for months showed similar cancer rates to unexposed animals, suggesting the radiation alone doesn't promote tumor formation.