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Cancer & Tumors

Chronic exposure to a 1.439 GHz electromagnetic field used for cellular phones does not promote N-ethylnitrosourea induced central nervous system tumors in F344 rats

No Effects Found

Shirai T, Kawabe M, Ichihara T, Fujiwara O, Taki M, Watanabe SI, Wake K, Yamanaka Y, Imaida K, Asamoto M, Tamano S. · 2005

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Two-year cell phone radiation exposure at levels exceeding typical usage did not promote brain tumor development in cancer-prone rats.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (1.439 GHz) for 2 years to see if it would promote brain tumors in animals already given a cancer-causing chemical. The EMF exposure did not increase tumor rates or accelerate brain cancer development at either exposure level tested (0.67 or 2.0 W/kg SAR). This suggests that chronic cell phone radiation exposure may not promote brain tumor growth, at least under these specific experimental conditions.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.44 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.44 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 1.439 GHz Duration: 2 year

Study Details

The present study was designed to evaluate whether a 2 year exposure to an electromagnetic field (EMF) equivalent to that generated by cellular phones can accelerate tumor development in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats.

Brain tumorigenesis was initiated by an intrauterine exposure to N-ethylnitrosourea (ENU) on gestati...

There were no inter-group differences in body weights, food consumption, and survival rates. No incr...

Thus, under the present experimental conditions, 1.439 GHz EMF exposure to the heads of rats for a 2 year period was not demonstrated to accelerate or affect ENU initiated brain tumorigenesis.

Cite This Study
Shirai T, Kawabe M, Ichihara T, Fujiwara O, Taki M, Watanabe SI, Wake K, Yamanaka Y, Imaida K, Asamoto M, Tamano S. (2005). Chronic exposure to a 1.439 GHz electromagnetic field used for cellular phones does not promote N-ethylnitrosourea induced central nervous system tumors in F344 rats Bioelectromagnetics 26:59-68, 2005.
Show BibTeX
@article{t_2005_chronic_exposure_to_a_3394,
  author = {Shirai T and Kawabe M and Ichihara T and Fujiwara O and Taki M and Watanabe SI and Wake K and Yamanaka Y and Imaida K and Asamoto M and Tamano S. },
  title = {Chronic exposure to a 1.439 GHz electromagnetic field used for cellular phones does not promote N-ethylnitrosourea induced central nervous system tumors in F344 rats},
  year = {2005},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/15605402},
}
PubMed: 15605402

Cited By (50 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2005 Japanese study found that 1.439 GHz radiation did not promote brain tumors in rats. Researchers exposed animals to this frequency for two years at levels of 0.67 or 2.0 W/kg SAR and found no increase in tumor rates or acceleration of brain cancer development.
Research using 1.439 GHz cell phone radiation found no evidence that this frequency accelerates brain tumor growth. Rats with chemically-induced brain cancer showed no increased tumor development when exposed to cell phone radiation for two years at realistic exposure levels.
The study tested two specific absorption rate (SAR) levels: 0.67 W/kg and 2.0 W/kg. Neither exposure level increased brain tumor rates or affected tumor development in rats over a two-year period, suggesting these SAR levels don't promote brain cancer.
Researchers exposed rats to 1.439 GHz cell phone radiation for two full years to test long-term effects. This chronic exposure period was designed to simulate extended cell phone use, but showed no increase in brain tumor development or changes in survival rates.
No, the 1.439 GHz radiation exposure did not affect rat survival rates, body weights, or food consumption. The study found no differences between exposed and unexposed groups in any health measures, suggesting this frequency doesn't impact overall health outcomes in laboratory conditions.