Researchers conducted a large battery of laboratory tests to
assess the effects of exposure to mobile phone RF on genetic
material. These included tests for several kinds of abnormalities,
including mutations, chromosomal aberrations, DNA strand
breaks, and structural changes in the genetic material of blood cells
called lymphocytes. None of the tests showed any effect of the RF
except for the micronucleus assay, which detects structural effects
on the genetic material. The cells in this assay showed changes
after exposure to simulated cell phone radiation, but only after 24
hours of exposure. It is possible that exposing the test cells to
radiation for this long resulted in heating. Since this assay is known
to be sensitive to heating, heat alone could have caused the abnor-
malities to occur. The data already in the literature on the
response of the micronucleus assay to RF are conflicting. Thus, fol-
low-up research is necessary.
2
FDA is currently working with government, industry, and academic
groups to ensure the proper follow-up to these industry-funded
research findings. Collaboration with the Cellular Telecommunica-
tions and Internet Association (CTIA) in particular is expected to
lead to FDA providing research recommendations and scientific
oversight of new CTIA-funded research based on such recommen-
dations.
Two other studies of interest have been reported recently in the
literature:
Two groups of 18 people were exposed to simulated mobile phone
signals under laboratory conditions while they performed cogni-
tive function tests. There were no changes in the subjects' ability
to recall words, numbers, or pictures, or in their spatial memory,
but they were able to make choices more quickly in one visual test
when they were exposed to simulated mobile phone signals. This
was the only change noted among more than 20 variables com-
pared.
3
In a study of 209 brain tumor cases and 425 matched controls,
there was no increased risk of brain tumors associated with
mobile phone use. When tumors did exist in certain locations,
however, they were more likely to be on the side of the head
where the mobile phone was used. Because this occurred in only a
small number of cases, the increased likelihood was too small to be
statistically significant.
4
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