A rat study in Bioelectromagnetics examined GSM-modulated 3.5 GHz RF-EMF exposure (2 h/day for 30 days) and reported adverse changes in male reproductive hormones, oxidative stress markers, and testicular histology. The authors also tested Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and found it partially ameliorated some RF-associated alterations. The paper notes that because the exposure used a GSM-modulated waveform, findings cannot be extrapolated to FR1 5G NR signals, and calls for further research under real-world conditions.

This animal experiment assessed GSM-modulated 3.5 GHz RF exposure in male Wistar rats and reported hormonal, oxidative, and histological changes consistent with testicular impairment. RF exposure was associated with lower testosterone, LH, and FSH, higher oxidative stress (increased MDA and TOS), and degenerative testicular histology. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation partially mitigated several reported changes. The authors caution against generalizing these results to FR1 5G NR signals and call for further research.

This in vitro study examined strictly non-thermal, GSM-like 3.5 GHz RF-EMF exposure in cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons for 1–24 hours. The authors report time-dependent reductions in cell viability alongside increased ROS and changes consistent with mitochondria-mediated apoptosis (e.g., Bax/caspase-3 up, cytochrome c release, Bcl-2 down) and increased p75NTR. They conclude these findings provide mechanistic evidence of peripheral neuronal vulnerability to mid-band RF exposure and call for further in vivo research.

This scoping review and evidence map (PRISMA-ScR) summarizes over 500 studies on RF-EMF exposure and genotoxicity across in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological research. The authors report a higher proportion of significant DNA damage findings in in vivo and epidemiological studies than in vitro studies, with DNA base damage commonly reported under real-world/pulsed/GSM talk-mode conditions and longer exposures. They conclude that DNA damage has been observed at exposure levels below ICNIRP limits and recommend precautionary measures and updates to guidelines to address potential non-thermal effects.

This National Toxicology Program technical report describes 900 MHz whole-body RFR exposures (GSM and CDMA) in male and female Sprague Dawley rats from in utero through up to 2 years. The report concludes clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in males for both modulations based on malignant schwannoma of the heart, with malignant glioma of the brain also reported as related to exposure. In females, the report concludes equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity for both modulations based on selected tumor outcomes, and genetic toxicology findings were mixed with some comet assay increases/equivocal results but negative micronucleus assays.

This animal study exposed male Sprague-Dawley rats to 900 MHz GSM mobile phone RF radiation for 4 hours and assessed ERα promoter methylation in colon tissue. The authors report altered ERα methylation patterns versus controls after RF exposure. They also report no radioadaptive response in ERα methylation following a subsequent 3 Gy Co-60 gamma challenge.

This rat study examined whether pulse-modulated 900 MHz and 1800 MHz RF exposure affects blood-brain barrier permeability using Evans blue dye. The abstract reports increased permeability in male rats at both frequencies (stronger at 1800 MHz) and in female rats at 900 MHz but not at 1800 MHz. The authors suggest mobile-phone-like RF exposure could increase blood-brain barrier permeability under non-thermal conditions, while noting that further mechanistic studies are needed.