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.

DNA & Genetic Damage

Effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on chromosomal aberrations in murine m5S cells.

No Effects Found

Komatsubara Y, Hirose H, Sakurai T, Koyama S, Suzuki Y, Taki M, Miyakoshi J. · 2005

View Original Abstract
Share:

Mouse cells showed no chromosomal damage from 2.45 GHz radiation at levels 50 times higher than cell phone safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers exposed mouse cells to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in microwave ovens and WiFi) for 2 hours at extremely high power levels up to 100 watts per kilogram. They found no chromosomal damage or genetic changes in the cells, even at these intense exposure levels that far exceed what humans typically experience from wireless devices.

Why This Matters

This study provides reassuring evidence that microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz doesn't break chromosomes or damage DNA, even at extraordinarily high exposure levels. The researchers tested power absorption rates up to 100 W/kg, which is 50 times higher than current safety limits for cell phones (2 W/kg). What this means for you: the exposure levels that caused no genetic damage in this study are dramatically higher than what you'd receive from typical WiFi routers, cell phones, or other 2.45 GHz devices in your daily life. While this single study doesn't address all potential health effects from EMF exposure, it does suggest that chromosomal damage is unlikely at the power levels we encounter from common wireless technologies.

Exposure Details

SAR
5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 W/kg
Source/Device
2.45 GHz
Exposure Duration
2 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 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, 10, 20, 50 and 100 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
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.45 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.45 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to Investigate Effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on chromosomal aberrations in murine m5S cells.

To investigate the induction of chromosomal aberrations in mouse m5S cells after exposure to high-fr...

No significant differences were observed following exposure to HFEMFs at SARs from 5 to 100 W/kg CW ...

In summary, HFEMF exposures at 2.45 GHz for 2 h with up to 100 W/kg SAR CW and an average 100 W/kg PW (a maximum SAR of 900 W/kg) do not induce chromosomal aberrations in m5S cells. Furthermore, there was no difference between exposures to CW and PW HFEMFs.

Cite This Study
Komatsubara Y, Hirose H, Sakurai T, Koyama S, Suzuki Y, Taki M, Miyakoshi J. (2005). Effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on chromosomal aberrations in murine m5S cells. Mutat Res. 587(1-2):114-119, 2005.
Show BibTeX
@article{y_2005_effect_of_highfrequency_electromagnetic_3151,
  author = {Komatsubara Y and Hirose H and Sakurai T and Koyama S and Suzuki Y and Taki M and Miyakoshi J.},
  title = {Effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields with a wide range of SARs on chromosomal aberrations in murine m5S cells.},
  year = {2005},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16202641/},
}
PubMed: 16202641

Cited By (30 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, Japanese researchers found that 2.45 GHz radiation at extremely high levels up to 100 watts per kilogram caused no chromosome damage in mouse cells. This power level far exceeds typical human exposure from wireless devices, suggesting minimal genetic risk at normal usage levels.
No difference exists between pulsed and continuous 2.45 GHz radiation for chromosome damage. A 2005 study found neither pulsed waves (up to 900 W/kg peak) nor continuous waves (100 W/kg) caused genetic aberrations in cells after 2-hour exposure.
Even at 100 watts per kilogram - thousands of times higher than typical WiFi exposure - 2.45 GHz microwave radiation caused no chromosome damage in laboratory cells. This suggests extremely high safety margins exist for genetic effects from wireless devices.
No, 2-hour exposure to 2.45 GHz radiation (microwave oven frequency) at power levels up to 100 watts per kilogram caused no chromosome breaks in mouse cells. This frequency is also used by WiFi and Bluetooth devices at much lower power.
Mouse cells showed no genetic damage when exposed to 2.45 GHz WiFi frequency radiation for 2 hours, even at extreme power levels of 100 watts per kilogram. Normal WiFi exposure is thousands of times lower than these tested levels.