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Cell Phone Radiation is Associated with DNA Damage in Peer-Reviewed Analysis of NTP Study.

Oct 30, 2019 | 0 comments

Cell Phone Radiation is Associated with DNA Damage in Peer-Reviewed Analysis of NTP Study

US National Toxicology Program to perform follow up studies.

The peer-reviewed scientific study “Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure” was published in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis by National Toxicology Program (NTP) scientists of the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences.

Significant increases in DNA damage were found in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). The study concluded that these results suggest that exposure to RFR is associated with an increase in DNA damage.” “Our results and the results of other experiments suggest that non-thermal exposure of cells or whole organisms to RFR may result in measurable genotoxic effects.” As cell phone radiation is non-ionizing, the authors reference how “induction of oxygen radicals or interference with DNA repair processes have been proposed as possible mechanisms by which RFR could cause DNA damage.  

Length of  exposure

  • 19 weeks total for the Rats 900 MHz starting at gestation day 5
  • 14 weeks total for Mice 1900 MHz from postnatal day 35
  • Exposure was intermittent on and off every 10 min, resulting in a total duration of exposure of 9 h 10 min per 24 hour period.

Intensity of exposure

  • The NTP study had three radio frequency radiation exposure levels which were 1.5 W/kg, 3 W/kg, and 6.0 W/kg.
  • For comparison the US FCC exposure limit for cell phones are to the head and body for the general public is 1.6 W/kg (about the same as the first exposure group) for extremities such as the arms, legs and ears- the limit is 4.0 W/kg (more than the second exposure group) and for occupational the head /body limit is 8.0 W/kg (higher than any exposure group) and for hands, feet, wrist, ankles, ear it is 20W/kg (far more than any exposure group). 

In light of these research findings, NTP has announced that they are evaluating the literature on 5G and  will initiate additional short-term studies at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences at Research Triangle Park, NC to better understand the damage from RFR exposure. According to Microwave News, four new exposure chambers to house the animals during research have already been delivered. 

“We can no longer ignore the mounting scientific evidence that proves ordinary cell phone radiation leads to DNA damage, the very basic building blocks of all living things. It’s time for federal action to reduce exposure to the public,” stated Devra Davis PhD, MPH, President of Environmental Health Trust.

“Cell phones came on the market with the assumption that cell phone radiation was safe- as long as it did not create significant heat. This study shows such assumptions are wrong.  An important lesson that should be learned from this study is that we can no longer assume that any current or future wireless technology, including 5G, is safe without adequate testing,” stated Ron Melnick, PhD, lead designer of the study and as Senior Toxicologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences now retired. 

“Unfortunately the cell phone wireless safety standards in North America are based on a theory that’s many decades old, that if tissue doesn’t get heated by the radiation, it can’t cause harm. In this study, the radiation exposure to the animals was carefully controlled to ensure that tissues were not heated, yet DNA damage was caused. Thus, FCC and Health Canada wireless radiation limits are not sufficiently protective. This study adds to the large body of ever growing research showing that non-ionizing radiation that does not heat tissue can and does cause harm to humans”, stated Anthony Miller MD, former Director of the Epidemiology Unit of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Professor Emeritus, Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto and senior advisor to Environmental Health Trust 

Read Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure published in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. 

Abstract

The National Toxicology Program tested two common radiofrequency radiation (RFR) modulations emitted by cellular telephones in a 2-year rodent cancer bioassay that included interim assessments of additional animals for genotoxicity endpoints. Male and female Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats and B6C3F1/N mice were exposed from gestation day 5 or postnatal day 35, respectively, to code division multiple access (CDMA) or global system for mobile (GSM) modulations over 18 h/day, at 10 min intervals, in reverberation chambers at specific absorption rates (SAR) of 1.5, 3, or 6 W/kg (rats, 900 MHz) or 2.5, 5, or 10 W/kg (mice, 1900 MHz). After 19 (rats) or 14 (mice) weeks of exposure, animals were examined for evidence of RFR-associated genotoxicity using two different measures. Using the alkaline (pH > 13) comet assay, DNA damage was assessed in cells from three brain regions, liver cells, and peripheral blood leukocytes; using the micronucleus assay, chromosomal damage was assessed in immature and mature peripheral blood erythrocytes.

Results of the comet assay showed significant increases in DNA damage in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations), leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). Increases in DNA damage judged to be equivocal were observed in several other tissues of rats and mice. No significant increases in micronucleated red blood cells were observed in rats or mice. In conclusion, these results suggest that exposure to RFR is associated with an increase in DNA damage.