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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

DNA & Genetic Damage

The number of genes changing expression after chronic exposure to Code Division Multiple Access or Frequency DMA radiofrequency radiation does not exceed the false-positive rate.

No Effects Found

Whitehead TD, Moros EG, Brownstein BH, Roti Roti JL. · 2006

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Cell phone radiation at 5 W/kg caused no detectable gene expression changes above random chance, even at levels higher than typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mouse cells to cell phone radiation at 5 watts per kilogram for 24 hours to see if it changed gene activity. They found no meaningful changes in gene expression - the few changes they detected were no more than would occur by random chance. This suggests cell phone radiation at this level doesn't trigger cellular responses that could lead to biological effects.

Why This Matters

This study provides important context in the EMF health debate by using rigorous methodology to examine gene expression changes, which are often the first measurable biological responses to environmental stressors. The exposure level of 5 watts per kilogram is significantly higher than typical cell phone use (which produces SAR values of 0.5-2 W/kg), yet produced no detectable biological response above background noise. What makes this research particularly valuable is the inclusion of positive controls using X-rays, which clearly demonstrated the system could detect real gene expression changes when they occurred. The reality is that while some studies have reported gene expression changes from RF radiation, this well-controlled experiment suggests that at moderate exposure levels, cellular machinery remains largely unaffected by radiofrequency fields.

Exposure Details

SAR
5 W/kg
Exposure Duration
24 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 5 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: 5 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 3 times the FCC limit

Study Details

Experiments with cultured C3H 10T 1/2 cells were performed to determine if exposure to cell phone radiofrequency (RF) radiations induce changes in gene expression

Following a 24 h exposure of 5 W/kg specific adsorption rate, RNA was extracted from the exposed and...

The number of gene expression changes induced by RF radiation was not greater than the number of fal...

Cite This Study
Whitehead TD, Moros EG, Brownstein BH, Roti Roti JL. (2006). The number of genes changing expression after chronic exposure to Code Division Multiple Access or Frequency DMA radiofrequency radiation does not exceed the false-positive rate. Proteomics. 6(17):4739-4744, 2006.
Show BibTeX
@article{td_2006_the_number_of_genes_3490,
  author = {Whitehead TD and Moros EG and Brownstein BH and Roti Roti JL.},
  title = {The number of genes changing expression after chronic exposure to Code Division Multiple Access or Frequency DMA radiofrequency radiation does not exceed the false-positive rate.},
  year = {2006},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16933338/},
}
PubMed: 16933338

Cited By (24 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2006 study found that exposing mouse cells to cell phone radiation at 5 watts per kilogram for 24 hours caused no meaningful changes in gene expression. The few changes detected were no more than would occur by random chance alone.
Research shows CDMA and FDMA radiofrequency radiation does not trigger cellular responses in mouse cells. The 2006 study found no significant gene expression changes after 24-hour exposure, suggesting these signals don't activate biological pathways at tested levels.
The number of genes changing expression from chronic cell phone radiation exposure does not exceed the false-positive rate. A 2006 study found gene changes were statistically indistinguishable from random variation, indicating no real biological effect.
No, 5 watts per kilogram SAR level is not enough to cause genetic changes in mouse cells. This exposure level, which is higher than typical cell phone use, produced no meaningful gene expression changes in laboratory testing.
Yes, mouse cells respond very differently to RF radiation versus X-ray radiation. While X-rays caused significant gene expression changes, radiofrequency radiation at 5 watts per kilogram showed no detectable cellular response beyond random variation.