8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% 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.

DNA & Genetic Damage

Analysis of gene expression in two human-derived cell lines exposed in vitro to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field.

No Effects Found

Chauhan V, Qutob SS, Lui S, Mariampillai A, Bellier PV, Yauk CL, Douglas GR, Williams A, McNamee JP. · 2007

View Original Abstract
Share:

Human cells showed no genetic changes from cell phone-frequency radiation at levels up to 10 W/kg, well above typical phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Canadian researchers exposed two types of human cells to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for up to 24 hours at power levels ranging from very low to high. They found no changes in gene expression - meaning the RF exposure didn't turn genes on or off differently than unexposed cells. However, when they heated the same cells to 43°C (109°F) for comparison, multiple heat-shock genes activated as expected.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.90 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.90 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 1.9 GHz Duration: Intermittent (5 min ON, 10 min OFF) RF fields for 6 h

Study Details

We have now examined the effect of RF field exposure on the possible expression of late onset genes in U87MG cells after a 24 h RF exposure period.

In addition, a human monocyte-derived cell-line (Mono-Mac-6, MM6) was exposed to intermittent (5 min...

In support of our previous results, we found no evidence that nonthermal RF field exposure could alt...

Cite This Study
Chauhan V, Qutob SS, Lui S, Mariampillai A, Bellier PV, Yauk CL, Douglas GR, Williams A, McNamee JP. (2007). Analysis of gene expression in two human-derived cell lines exposed in vitro to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field. Proteomics. 7(21):3896-3905, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{v_2007_analysis_of_gene_expression_2971,
  author = {Chauhan V and Qutob SS and Lui S and Mariampillai A and Bellier PV and Yauk CL and Douglas GR and Williams A and McNamee JP.},
  title = {Analysis of gene expression in two human-derived cell lines exposed in vitro to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field.},
  year = {2007},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17902192/},
}
PubMed: 17902192

Cited By (28 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, Canadian researchers found that 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency radiation did not alter gene expression in human U87MG or MM6 cells, even after 24 hours of exposure at various power levels. The genes remained unchanged compared to unexposed control cells.
Research shows U87MG brain cells showed no detectable response to non-thermal 1.9 GHz radiofrequency exposure for up to 24 hours. However, the same cells immediately activated heat-shock genes when heated to 43°C, proving they could respond to thermal stress.
Human cells exposed to 1.9 GHz radiation for up to 24 hours showed no changes in gene expression patterns. This Canadian study tested both U87MG and MM6 cell lines at various power levels without finding any genetic alterations.
MM6 immune cells showed no gene expression changes when exposed to 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiation, similar to brain cells tested in the same study. Neither cell type demonstrated any genetic response to the radiofrequency exposure at non-thermal levels.
Researchers tested 1.9 GHz radiation at power levels ranging from very low to high intensities over 24-hour periods. Despite this wide range of exposure levels, no gene expression changes occurred in either human cell line tested.