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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

Chromosome damage and micronucleus formation in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiofrequency radiation at a cellular telephone frequency (847.74 MHz, CDMA).

No Effects Found

Vijayalaxmi, Bisht KS, Pickard WF, Meltz ML, Roti Roti JL, Moros EG. · 2001

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Cell phone radiation at 847.74 MHz showed no direct DNA damage in blood cells at high exposure levels over 24 hours.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human blood cells to cell phone radiation at 847.74 MHz for 24 hours to see if it would damage DNA or cause chromosome breaks. They found no significant genetic damage compared to unexposed cells, even at high exposure levels (4.9-5.5 W/kg SAR). This suggests that this particular frequency and exposure duration may not directly harm cellular DNA.

Why This Matters

This study provides important data on one specific aspect of EMF exposure - whether cell phone frequencies directly break chromosomes or damage DNA in immune cells. The researchers used exposure levels significantly higher than typical phone use (modern phones operate at 1.6-2.0 W/kg SAR limits), yet found no genetic damage after 24 hours. However, this represents just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The science demonstrates that EMF effects extend far beyond direct DNA damage - studies have documented impacts on cellular signaling, oxidative stress, and protein function that don't require chromosome breaks. What this means for you is that while this frequency may not directly shatter your DNA, it doesn't rule out other biological effects that could accumulate over the years of daily exposure we all experience.

Exposure Details

SAR
4.9 or 5.5 W/kg
Power Density
95 mW/cm²
Source/Device
847.74 MHz
Exposure Duration
24 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 95 mW/cm² for radio frequency:

This study used 4.9 or 5.5 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: 95 mW/cm²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 95 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 847.7 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 847.7 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Chromosome damage and micronucleus formation in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiofrequency radiation at a cellular telephone frequency (847.74 MHz, CDMA).

Peripheral blood samples collected from four healthy nonsmoking human volunteers were diluted with t...

The data indicated no significant differences between RF-radiation-exposed and sham-exposed lymphocy...

Thus there was no evidence for induction of chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro for 24 h to 847.74 MHz RF radiation (CDMA) at SARs of 4.9 or 5.5 W/kg.

Cite This Study
Vijayalaxmi, Bisht KS, Pickard WF, Meltz ML, Roti Roti JL, Moros EG. (2001). Chromosome damage and micronucleus formation in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiofrequency radiation at a cellular telephone frequency (847.74 MHz, CDMA). Radiat Res 156(4):430-432, 2001.
Show BibTeX
@article{vijayalaxmi_2001_chromosome_damage_and_micronucleus_3471,
  author = {Vijayalaxmi and Bisht KS and Pickard WF and Meltz ML and Roti Roti JL and Moros EG.},
  title = {Chromosome damage and micronucleus formation in human blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiofrequency radiation at a cellular telephone frequency (847.74 MHz, CDMA).},
  year = {2001},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11554855/},
}
PubMed: 11554855

Cited By (92 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 2001 study found no chromosome damage in human blood lymphocytes exposed to 847.74 MHz CDMA radiation for 24 hours. Even at high exposure levels (4.9-5.5 W/kg SAR), researchers detected no significant genetic damage compared to unexposed cells.
Research shows 24-hour exposure to 847.74 MHz CDMA radiation does not damage DNA in human blood cells. The study found no significant differences in chromosome aberrations or micronuclei formation between exposed and unexposed lymphocytes at SAR levels up to 5.5 W/kg.
Based on laboratory testing, 847.74 MHz radiation appears safe for human lymphocytes at the levels tested. Researchers found no evidence of chromosome damage or micronuclei formation in blood cells exposed for 24 hours at SAR levels of 4.9-5.5 W/kg.
Scientists tested CDMA radiation at SAR levels of 4.9 and 5.5 W/kg in human blood lymphocytes. These high exposure levels, maintained for 24 hours at 847.74 MHz, produced no significant chromosome damage or genetic abnormalities compared to control cells.
No, human blood lymphocytes exposed to 847.74 MHz CDMA radiation for 24 hours showed no increase in micronuclei formation. The 2001 study found no significant differences in cellular damage markers between RF-exposed and unexposed cells at tested SAR levels.