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.

Brain & Nervous System

Multigenerational effects of whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA cellular phone signals on brain function in rats

No Effects Found

Shirai T, Imai N, Wang J, Takahashi S, Kawabe M, Wake K, Kawai H, Watanabe S-I, Furukawa F, Fujiwara O · 2014

View Original Abstract
Share:

Three generations of rats showed no brain effects from 20-hour daily cell phone radiation exposure at typical device levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers exposed three generations of rats to cell phone signals (2.14 GHz W-CDMA) for 20 hours daily, testing brain function and development across multiple generations. They found no adverse effects on brain function, behavior, or development in any of the three generations studied. This comprehensive multigenerational study suggests that chronic exposure to these specific cell phone frequencies at the tested levels did not cause detectable brain or developmental problems in rats.

Why This Matters

This study stands out for its ambitious multigenerational design, tracking effects across three generations of rats exposed to W-CDMA signals for 20 hours daily. The SAR levels tested (0.08-0.24 W/kg) fall within the range of typical cell phone exposures, making the findings relevant to real-world scenarios. However, this negative result represents just one data point in a much larger body of research on RF radiation and brain function. While the study's thoroughness is commendable, the science demonstrates that other research has found neurological effects from similar exposures, particularly studies examining different frequencies, exposure patterns, or biological endpoints. What this means for you is that no single study should be viewed in isolation when evaluating EMF health risks.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.24,0.08 W/kg
Source/Device
2.14 GHz
Exposure Duration
20 h a day

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.24,0.08 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 20 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.14 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.14 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The present experimental study was carried out with rats to evaluate the effects of whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz band code division multiple access (W‐CDMA) signals for 20 h a day, over three generations.

The average specific absorption rate (SAR, in unit of W/kg) for dams was designed at three levels: h...

No abnormalities were observed in the mother rats (F0, F1, and F2) and in the offspring (F1, F2, and...

Thus, it was concluded that under the experimental conditions applied, multigenerational whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz W‐CDMA signals for 20 h/day did not cause any adverse effects on the F1, F2, and F3 offspring.

Cite This Study
Shirai T, Imai N, Wang J, Takahashi S, Kawabe M, Wake K, Kawai H, Watanabe S-I, Furukawa F, Fujiwara O (2014). Multigenerational effects of whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA cellular phone signals on brain function in rats Bioelectromagnetics. 35(7):497-511, 2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{t_2014_multigenerational_effects_of_whole_2806,
  author = {Shirai T and Imai N and Wang J and Takahashi S and Kawabe M and Wake K and Kawai H and Watanabe S-I and Furukawa F and Fujiwara O},
  title = {Multigenerational effects of whole body exposure to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA cellular phone signals on brain function in rats},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.21871},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.21871},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.21871

Cited By (18 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2014 Japanese study found no adverse effects on brain development across three generations of rats exposed to 2.14 GHz W-CDMA signals for 20 hours daily. Brain function, behavior, and development remained normal in all tested generations, suggesting this frequency doesn't impair multigenerational brain health.
Research exposing rats to 2.14 GHz cell phone signals for 20 hours daily across multiple generations found no brain problems. The comprehensive study detected no abnormalities in neurobehavioral function, brain development, or other biological parameters in any generation tested.
A multigenerational study found W-CDMA 2.14 GHz radiation safe for long-term brain exposure. Rats exposed for 20 hours daily across three generations showed no adverse brain effects, behavioral changes, or developmental problems, indicating this 3G frequency appears safe at tested levels.
Japanese researchers found chronic 2.14 GHz W-CDMA exposure doesn't affect offspring brain function. Three generations of rat offspring showed normal neurobehavioral development despite their parents' 20-hour daily radiation exposure, suggesting no inherited brain damage from this frequency.
A 2014 study found no brain risks from whole body W-CDMA radiation exposure at 2.14 GHz. Comprehensive testing across three rat generations revealed no adverse effects on brain function, behavior, or biological parameters despite intensive 20-hour daily exposure periods.