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Clear Evidence of Cancer

 

 

The National Toxicology Program Study on Cell Phone Radiation and Cancer

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nominated the National Toxicology Program to perform large scale animal studies of radio frequency radiation (RFR) used by cell phones for an NTP study “because of widespread public use of cell phones and limited knowledge about potential health effects from long-term exposure”.

 

What did the studies find?

 

The NTP studies found that chronic exposure to RFR used by cell phones was associated with:

  • Clear evidence of tumors in the hearts of male rats. The tumors were malignant schwannomas.
  • Some evidence of tumors in the brains of male rats. The tumors were malignant gliomas.
  • Some evidence of tumors in the adrenal glands of male rats. The tumors were benign, malignant, or complex combined pheochromocytoma.
  • DNA damage: Specifically, they found RFR exposure was linked with significant increases in DNA damage in:
    • the frontal cortex of the brain in male mice,
    • the blood cells of female mice, and
    • the hippocampus of male rats.

 

 

NTP Top Resources 

 

 

 

National Institutes of Health Factsheet

 

The US National Insitutes of Health issued this factsheet for the public detailing NTP findings of cancer and DNA damage. You can go to the NTP website https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/topics/cellphones/index.html to download it from the US government webpage as well.

 

Download NTP’s Factsheet on the NTP Study  (January 2020)

 

During the New Hampshire Commission 5G Hearings  the NTP scientists clarified that the NTP study found effects at non thermal levels. 

“New Hampshire Commissioner Denise Ricciardi: I am still not clear. Your study was designed to test non heating damage. You found damage so doesn’t that mean that FCC assumption that only heating can cause damage is incorrect and no longer accurate? Would you agree?”

“National Toxicology Program scientist Michael Wyde: A lot of people believe unless you heat tissues, you won’t see health effects with RF. This study disproves that as we did not have over heating but we did see damage.” 

Read this on page 5 of 10 of minutes from the Comission here. 

Criticisms of the Study are Unfounded

 

The NTP Findings are Valid

Afte the NTP final reports of “clear evidence of cancer” were released the study was criticised by industry loyal groups such as ICNIRP. The FDA stated they “did not agree” with the findings in non peer reviewed articles. In response to these unjustified criticisms by the FDA ans ICNIRP, experts have published science based articles on the importance of the NTP study to understanding human health risks:

Ronald Melnick PhD published several articles:

Lennart Hardell MD published “Comments on the US National Toxicology Program technical reports on toxicology and carcinogenesis study in rats …” in the International Journal of Oncology. 

Dr. Melnick has also sent scientific letters to those who have criticised the NTP study clarifying the facts:

Published Findings of DNA Damage

 

NTP scientists also published a paper on the DNA damage found entitled “Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure” 

 “In conclusion, these results suggest that exposure to RFR is associated with an increase in DNA damage.”

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environmental Factor Articles

Publications on the NTP  RF Study

  • Smith-Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW, Hobbs CA, Shepard KG, Green AS, Kissling GE, Shockley KR, Tice RR, Bucher JR, Witt KL. Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22343 [epub ahead of print]
  • Wyde ME, Horn TL, Capstick MH, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, Wilson PF, Kissling GE, Stout MD, Kuster N, Melnick RL, Gauger J, Bucher JR, McCormick DL. Effect of cell phone radiofrequency radiation on body temperature in rodents: Pilot studies of the National Toxicology Program’s reverberation chamber exposure system. Bioelectromagnetics. 2018; 39:190-199 https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.22116
  • Capstick MH, Kuehn S, Berdinas-Torres V, Gong Y, Wilson PF, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, McCormick DL, Gauger J, Melnick RL, Kuster N. A radio frequency radiation exposure system for rodents based on reverberation chambers. IEEE Trans Electromagn Compat. 2017; 59(4):1041-1052 https://doi.org/10.1109/TEMC.2017.2649885
  • Gong Y, Capstick MH, Kuehn S, Wilson PF, Ladbury JM, Koepke G, McCormick DL, Melnick R, Kuster N. Life-time dosimetric assessment for mice and rats exposed in reverberation chambers for the two-year NTP cancer bioassay study on cell phone radiation. IEEE Trans Electromagn Compat. 2017; 59(6):1798-1808 https://doi.org/10.1109/TEMC.2017.2665039
  • Wyde M, Cesta M, Blystone C, Elmore S, Foster P, Hooth M, Kissling G, Malarkey D, Sills R, Stout M, Walker N, Witt K, Wolfe M, Bucher J. Report of partial findings from the National Toxicology Program carcinogenesis studies of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in Hsd: Sprage Dawley SD rats (whole body exposure). BioRxiv 055699 [Preprint] May 26, 2016 (modified Feb 01, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1101/055699

National Toxicology Peer Review 

Statement of the Conclusions of the NIEHS Peer Review: The NIEHS NTP issued this two page document with final conclusions of the peer review panel for each cancer endpoint.

Resources for NIEHS Peer Review

Videos From 3 Day Peer Review of NTP Study 

NEWS STORIES ON MARCH 2018 PEER REVIEW CONCLUSIONS

“Can your cellphone cause cancer? Scientists find definitive link in study of rats”The News and Observer March 28, 2018

New Studies Link Cell Phone Radiation with Cancer, Scientific American March 29, 2018

Can cellphones really cause cancer?, Pittsburgh (KDKA)

Findings of cancer in rodents exposed to cell-phone-like radiation draws crowd to RTP, CBS News

“Researchers find the cellphone-cancer risk is higher than originally thought”The Blaze March 30, 2018

The Nation: How Big Wireless Made Us Think That Cell Phones Are Safe: A Special Investigation: The disinformation campaign—and massive radiation increase—behind the 5G rollout. By Mark Hertsgaard and Mark Dowie, The Nation, March 29, 2018

On Point WBUR NPR Interview “Big Tobacco lied about cigarettes. Is Big Wireless lying about cell phones? We’ll look at the cancer-cell phone connection.”

New Study Links Cancer to Cell Phone Use,NBC DFW March 28, 2018

Advocates for Tougher RFR Standards Welcome Expert Views,Paul Kirby, Senior Editor, TRDaily

“We now have the first clear evidence cell phone radiation can cause cancer in rats”Quartz, March 30, 2018

“Is There A Cell Phone Link To Cancer? A Definite Maybe”  Science Friday Radio 7:56 Minute Radio, March 30, 2018

Cell Phone Radiation Linked to Cancer in New Studies, Interesting Engineering, April 1, 2018

 

Expert Statements on the NTP Report

Anthony Miller MD “Study supports his opinion that radiofrequency is a human carcinogen”  

“This animal evidence..conclusively confirms that radiofrequency radiation is a category 1 human carcinogen.” 

Devra Davis PhD, MPH “The NTP findings confirm that urgent federal action is needed.” 

“The FDA should perform a quantitative risk assessment to determine the levels of risk associated with this widespread exposure.

Dariusz Leszczynski PhD, NTP Study – my first impressions…

“NTP study demonstrates that exposures to cell phone radiation cause biological and health effects in animals. This confirms that biological and health effects in humans are possible.”

Environmental Working Group, Federal Research Raises Flags about Cancer Risks from Cell Phone Radiation

“This is the most authoritative study published that connects cancer with cellphone radiation – it should raise alarms for policymakers and awareness for all Americans…” 

Microwave News, Cell Phone Use Is “Not a High-Risk Situation”and “What Changed at NTP?: Same RF Cancer Data, Different Outlook” 

“Who or what moved the NTP managers to change their outlook? There’s no shortage of suspects and suspicions. Here are a few making the rounds…” 

Marc Arazi MD,  Phonegate, [First reaction] Phonegate : Radiation levels at the center of cancer and non-cancer risks in the U.S. NTP study

“This clearly confirms the need to conduct risk studies for human and animal health before any new launch of frequencies, such as 5G that will soon flood the planet.” 

American Cancer Society Press Release 2/2018 “ Updated Cell Phone Study Findings Still Inconclusive”

“It’s still not clear whether RFR, the type of low-energy radiation given off by cell phones while they’re in use, can cause harmful health effects in people.”

Otis W. Brawley, MD, American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer 2/2018  Rodents and Radiation: What to Take Away from New Study Findings

““The animals in this study were exposed at high levels for 9 hours per day. So while the link to some rare cancers are important, there is no reason to think this study reflects real life exposures….the evidence for an association between cell phones and cancer is weak, and so far, we have not seen a higher cancer risk in people. But if you’re concerned about this animal data, wear an earpiece.” 

IT/IS Foundation Press Release  Draft Technical Reports of the National Toxicology Program’s Radiofrequency Radiation Studies in Rodents

“The exposure modulation and levels were designed by the IT’IS Foundation in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to mimic a cell phone user’s exposure in the environment…the overall exposure remained within normal levels – a fact that was repeatedly reported wrongly in many news outlets.” 

FDA Disagrees with NTP Study 

 

Jeffrey Shuren, M.D.,  Director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health: Statement on NTP Radiofrequency Study Report 

“Based on this current information, we believe the current safety limits for cell phones are acceptable for protecting the public health.” 

 

Industry Response

MWF, Mobile & Wireless Forum,Statement on the National Toxicology Program

This document referenced the FDA statement that radio frequency lead to longer lives and also that the US FDA concluded: “I want to underscore that based on our ongoing evaluation of this issue and taking into account all available scientific evidence we have received, we have not found sufficient evidence that there are adverse health effects in humans…” 

 

Expert Comments on the NTP 

PUBLISHED PAPERS

Bucher JR, Birnbaum LS. Commemorating Toxicology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on the Occasion of Its 50th Anniversary. Environ Health Perspect. 2016;124(11):A192‐A195. doi:10.1289/EHP463

  • “Radiofrequency radiation cancer studies are being carried out under contract at the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (IITRI) in Chicago. Initial findings appear to support the International Agency for Research on Cancer conclusions that RFR is a possible human carcinogen (Wyde et al. 2016). These studies represent a complex technical collaboration between NTP, IITRI, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Zurich.”