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Brain & Nervous System

Microwave exposure of neuronal cells in vitro: Study of apoptosis.

No Effects Found

Joubert V, Leveque P, Rametti A, Collin A, Bourthoumieu S, Yardin C. · 2006

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Cell phone radiation at typical exposure levels did not kill brain cells in this 24-hour laboratory study.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

French researchers exposed human brain cells to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz for 24 hours to see if it would trigger cell death (apoptosis). They tested two exposure levels - one mimicking typical phone use and another eight times higher. The study found no increase in brain cell death at either exposure level, suggesting that 24-hour exposure to cell phone radiation does not kill these particular brain cells.

Why This Matters

This study provides valuable data on a specific biological endpoint - whether RF radiation directly kills brain cells through apoptosis. The exposure levels tested are relevant to real-world use: 0.25 W/kg represents typical cell phone exposure, while 2 W/kg is well above current safety limits. However, the absence of cell death doesn't tell the complete story about RF effects on the brain. Many other studies have documented subtler but potentially significant changes in brain cells, including altered gene expression, protein synthesis, and cellular signaling pathways that don't necessarily lead to immediate cell death. What this means for you is that while this study suggests RF exposure may not directly kill brain cells in the short term, it doesn't rule out other types of biological effects that could accumulate over time with chronic exposure.

Exposure Details

SAR
2, 0.25 W/kg
Source/Device
900 MHz
Exposure Duration
24 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 2, 0.25 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: 2, 0.25 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study was to investigate microwave (MW) effects on neuronal apoptosis in vitro.

Human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y were exposed to a 900 MHz global system for mobile communication (...

No statistically significant difference in the apoptosis rate was observed between sham and 24 h MW-...

These results showed that, under the conditions of the present experiment, MW-exposure (either CW or GSM-900) does not significantly increase the apoptosis rate in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

Cite This Study
Joubert V, Leveque P, Rametti A, Collin A, Bourthoumieu S, Yardin C. (2006). Microwave exposure of neuronal cells in vitro: Study of apoptosis. Int J Radiat Biol. 82(4):267-275, 2006.
Show BibTeX
@article{v_2006_microwave_exposure_of_neuronal_3121,
  author = {Joubert V and Leveque P and Rametti A and Collin A and Bourthoumieu S and Yardin C.},
  title = {Microwave exposure of neuronal cells in vitro: Study of apoptosis.},
  year = {2006},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16690594/},
}
PubMed: 16690594

Cited By (46 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2006 French study found that 24-hour exposure to 900 MHz cell phone radiation does not kill human brain cells. Researchers tested both normal phone use levels (0.25 W/kg) and eight times higher exposure (2 W/kg) with no increase in cell death.
Research shows continuous 900 MHz radiation exposure does not trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in human neuroblastoma cells. The 2006 study tested 24-hour exposures at both GSM-900 and continuous wave signals with no significant increase in cell death rates.
Studies indicate 0.25 W/kg SAR exposure from GSM-900 phones does not harm human brain cells. French researchers found no significant cell death in neuroblastoma cells after 24-hour exposure at this typical phone use level compared to unexposed cells.
No, even high SAR levels of 2 W/kg from 900 MHz continuous wave radiation do not cause brain cell damage. The 2006 study found no increase in apoptosis rates in human neuroblastoma cells at this exposure level, eight times typical phone use.
GSM-900 radiation does not affect human neuroblastoma cell survival according to laboratory research. The study found no difference in cell death rates between cells exposed to GSM-900 signals and unexposed control cells after 24 hours of continuous exposure.