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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 abnormalities to occur. The data
already in the literature on the response of the micronucleus
assay to RF are conflicting. Thus, follow-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
Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) in particular is
expected to lead to FDA providing research recommendations
and scientific oversight of new CTIA-funded research based on
such recommendations.
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
cognitive 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
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