Share
𝕏 Facebook LinkedIn

The International Collaborative Animal Study of The Carcinogenicity and Genotoxicity of Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation: The Korean Study.

PAPER pubmed Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 2026 Animal study Effect: no_effect Evidence: Moderate

Abstract

A chronic bioassay investigating radiofrequency (RF) carcinogenicity, intentionally designed to be conducted simultaneously in Korea and Japan, using the same research protocol and experimental environment. The study aimed to assess the potential carcinogenicity of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-modulated 900 MHz RF signals at a whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4 W/kg, which is the reference level of the international human safety guideline, and to verify the key findings from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) study at that SAR level. Two reverberation chamber systems were used for RF exposures, and the same study protocols were followed. Male Harlan Sprague-Dawley (Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD®) rats were randomly assigned to cage-control, sham-exposed, or RF-exposed groups. The exposure started on gestational day 5 and lasted for 18 hours and 20 minutes each day, with 10-minute on/off cycles. The project included a 28-day toxicity study, a 2-year carcinogenicity study, and a 14-week genotoxicity test. Histopathological evaluations were conducted in a partially blinded manner. The results were independently analyzed and submitted separately based on each country's research findings. In the Korean study, no statistically significant changes in tumor incidence or survival rates were observed. No significant RF-related effects were detected in the heart, brain, or adrenal glands. No changes in body temperature. Genotoxicity tests showed no evidence of DNA damage or mutation. In conclusion, the Korean part found that long-term exposure to CDMA-modulated 900 MHz RF was neither carcinogenic nor genotoxic at a SAR of 4 W/kg in male rats.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance
Study type
Animal study
Effect direction
no_effect
Population
male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats
Sample size
Exposure
RF mobile phone · 900 MHz · 4 W/kg · 18 hours 20 minutes per day, 2 years for carcinogenicity study
Evidence strength
Moderate
Confidence: 80% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

No statistically significant changes in tumor incidence or survival rates were observed. No significant RF-related effects were detected in heart, brain, or adrenal glands. No changes in body temperature. Genotoxicity tests showed no evidence of DNA damage or mutation.

Outcomes measured

  • tumor incidence
  • survival rates
  • histopathological changes in heart, brain, adrenal glands
  • body temperature
  • genotoxicity (DNA damage, mutation)

Limitations

  • Sample size not specified
  • Only male rats studied
  • Only one modulation type (CDMA) and frequency (900 MHz) tested

Suggested hubs

  • occupational-exposure (0.7)
    Study of RF exposure relevant to human safety guidelines and occupational exposure levels.
View raw extracted JSON
{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": 4,
        "duration": "18 hours 20 minutes per day, 2 years for carcinogenicity study"
    },
    "population": "male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "tumor incidence",
        "survival rates",
        "histopathological changes in heart, brain, adrenal glands",
        "body temperature",
        "genotoxicity (DNA damage, mutation)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "No statistically significant changes in tumor incidence or survival rates were observed. No significant RF-related effects were detected in heart, brain, or adrenal glands. No changes in body temperature. Genotoxicity tests showed no evidence of DNA damage or mutation.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not specified",
        "Only male rats studied",
        "Only one modulation type (CDMA) and frequency (900 MHz) tested"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.8000000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "carcinogenicity",
        "genotoxicity",
        "CDMA",
        "900 MHz",
        "animal study",
        "specific absorption rate",
        "SAR"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Study of RF exposure relevant to human safety guidelines and occupational exposure levels."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.