Carcinogenicity study of GSM and DCS wireless communication signals in B6C3F1 mice.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2007 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

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MixedModerate evidencePaper 5082

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2007

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The purpose of this study using a total of 1170 B6C3F1 mice was to detect and evaluate possible carcinogenic effects in mice exposed to radio-frequency-radiation (RFR) from Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Digital Personal Communications System (DCS) handsets as emitted by handsets operating in the center of the communication band, that is, at 902 MHz (GSM) and 1747 MHz (DCS). Restrained mice were exposed for 2 h per day, 5 days per week over a period of 2 years to three different whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) levels of 0.4, 1.3, 4.0 mW/g bw (SAR), or were sham exposed. Regarding the organ-related tumor incidence, pairwise Fisher's test did not show any significant increase in the incidence of any particular tumor type in the RF exposed groups as compared to the sham exposed group. Interestingly, while the incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas were similar in EMF and sham exposed groups, in both studies the incidences of liver adenomas in males decreased with increasing dose levels; the incidences in the high dose groups were statistically significantly different from those in the sham exposed groups. Comparison to published tumor rates in untreated mice revealed that the observed tumor rates were within the range of historical control data. In conclusion, the present study produced no evidence that the exposure of male and female B6C3F1 mice to wireless GSM and DCS radio frequency signals at a whole body absorption rate of up to 4.0 W/kg resulted in any adverse health effect or had any cumulative influence on the incidence or severity of neoplastic and non-neoplastic background lesions, and thus the study did not provide any evidence of RF possessing a carcinogenic potential.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationB6C3F1 mice (male and female)

Sample size1170

ExposureRF · 4 W/kg · 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 years

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In pairwise comparisons, no significant increase in incidence of any particular tumor type was observed in RF-exposed groups versus sham. Male liver adenoma incidence decreased with increasing dose, with high-dose groups significantly lower than sham; overall tumor rates were within historical control ranges. The authors conclude no evidence of carcinogenic potential up to a whole-body SAR of 4.0 W/kg.

Outcomes measured

Organ-related tumor incidence
Incidence of specific tumor types (including hepatocellular carcinomas and liver adenomas in males)
Neoplastic and non-neoplastic background lesions (incidence/severity)

Limitations

Frequencies and results are described for GSM (902 MHz) and DCS (1747 MHz) exposures, but the abstract does not specify whether findings differed by signal type beyond noting 'both studies'.
Statistical approach details beyond pairwise Fisher's test are not provided in the abstract.
Historical control comparisons are mentioned, but the abstract does not provide the historical control dataset characteristics.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "2 h/day, 5 days/week for 2 years"
  },
  "population": "B6C3F1 mice (male and female)",
  "sample_size": 1170,
  "outcomes": [
    "Organ-related tumor incidence",
    "Incidence of specific tumor types (including hepatocellular carcinomas and liver adenomas in males)",
    "Neoplastic and non-neoplastic background lesions (incidence/severity)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In pairwise comparisons, no significant increase in incidence of any particular tumor type was observed in RF-exposed groups versus sham. Male liver adenoma incidence decreased with increasing dose, with high-dose groups significantly lower than sham; overall tumor rates were within historical control ranges. The authors conclude no evidence of carcinogenic potential up to a whole-body SAR of 4.0 W/kg.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequencies and results are described for GSM (902 MHz) and DCS (1747 MHz) exposures, but the abstract does not specify whether findings differed by signal type beyond noting 'both studies'.",
    "Statistical approach details beyond pairwise Fisher's test are not provided in the abstract.",
    "Historical control comparisons are mentioned, but the abstract does not provide the historical control dataset characteristics."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "B6C3F1 mice",
    "carcinogenicity",
    "radio-frequency radiation",
    "GSM",
    "DCS",
    "902 MHz",
    "1747 MHz",
    "whole-body SAR",
    "tumor incidence",
    "liver adenoma"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Animal carcinogenicity study of RF exposure relevant to RF health-risk evidence base often considered in guideline discussions."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.20283
PubMed: 17019729

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