RF Safe

Chronic exposure to a 1.439 GHz electromagnetic field used for cellular phones does not promote N-ethylnitrosourea induced central nervous system tumors in F344 rats.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2005 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 5205

Across ENU-initiated rats, 2-year head exposure to a 1.439 GHz TDMA (PDC) signal at brain-average SAR 0.67 or 2.0 W/kg did not increase the incidence or number of brain and/or spinal cord tumors in males or females, and no clear changes in tumor types were ob…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2005
Study typeanimal
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate whether a 2 year exposure to an electromagnetic field (EMF) equivalent to that generated by cellular phones can accelerate tumor development in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats. Brain tumorigenesis was initiated by an intrauterine exposure to N-ethylnitrosourea (ENU) on gestational day 18. A total of 500 pups were divided into five groups, each composed of 50 males and 50 females: Group 1, untreated control; Group 2, ENU alone; Groups 3-5, ENU + EMF (sham exposure and 2 exposure levels). A 1.439 GHz time division multiple access (TDMA) signal for the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Japanese standard cellular system was used for the exposure of the rat head starting from 5 weeks of age, 90 min a day, 5 days a week, for 104 weeks. Brain average specific absorption rate (SAR) was 0.67 and 2.0 W/kg for low and high exposures, respectively: whole body average SAR was less than 0.4 W/kg. There were no inter-group differences in body weights, food consumption, and survival rates. No increase in the incidences or numbers per group of brain and/or spinal cord tumors, either in the males or females, was detected in the EMF exposed groups. In addition, no clear changes in tumor types were evident. Thus, under the present experimental conditions, 1.439 GHz EMF exposure to the heads of rats for a 2 year period was not demonstrated to accelerate or affect ENU initiated brain tumorigenesis.

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 directionno_effect
PopulationF344 rats (pups; 50 males and 50 females per group) with intrauterine ENU initiation on gestational day 18
Sample size500
ExposureRF · 1439 MHz · 2 W/kg · 90 min/day, 5 days/week, 104 weeks (starting at 5 weeks of age)
Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across ENU-initiated rats, 2-year head exposure to a 1.439 GHz TDMA (PDC) signal at brain-average SAR 0.67 or 2.0 W/kg did not increase the incidence or number of brain and/or spinal cord tumors in males or females, and no clear changes in tumor types were observed. Body weights, food consumption, and survival did not differ between groups.

Outcomes measured

  • Incidence and number of brain tumors
  • Incidence and number of spinal cord tumors
  • Tumor types (CNS)
  • Body weight
  • Food consumption
  • Survival rates
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1439,
    "sar_wkg": 2,
    "duration": "90 min/day, 5 days/week, 104 weeks (starting at 5 weeks of age)"
  },
  "population": "F344 rats (pups; 50 males and 50 females per group) with intrauterine ENU initiation on gestational day 18",
  "sample_size": 500,
  "outcomes": [
    "Incidence and number of brain tumors",
    "Incidence and number of spinal cord tumors",
    "Tumor types (CNS)",
    "Body weight",
    "Food consumption",
    "Survival rates"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across ENU-initiated rats, 2-year head exposure to a 1.439 GHz TDMA (PDC) signal at brain-average SAR 0.67 or 2.0 W/kg did not increase the incidence or number of brain and/or spinal cord tumors in males or females, and no clear changes in tumor types were observed. Body weights, food consumption, and survival did not differ between groups.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "1.439 GHz",
    "TDMA",
    "Personal Digital Cellular (PDC)",
    "RF EMF",
    "cellular phone signal",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR",
    "F344 rats",
    "N-ethylnitrosourea",
    "ENU",
    "brain tumors",
    "central nervous system tumors",
    "spinal cord tumors",
    "2-year exposure"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Uses a 1.439 GHz TDMA cellular-phone-equivalent signal with reported SAR and long-term head exposure in rats."
    }
  ]
}
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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.20079
PubMed: 15605402

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