Tumor promotion by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below exposure limits for humans.
The vast majority of in vitro and in vivo studies did not find cancerogenic effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), i.e. emitted by mobile phones and base stations. Previously published results from a pilot study with carcinogen-treated mice, however, suggested tumor-promoting effects of RF-EMF (Tillmann et al., 2010). We have performed a replication study using higher numbers of animals per group and including two additional exposure levels (0 (sham), 0.04, 0.4 and 2 W/kg SAR). We could confirm and extend the originally reported findings. Numbers of tumors of the lungs and livers in exposed animals were significantly higher than in sham-exposed controls. In addition, lymphomas were also found to be significantly elevated by exposure. A clear dose-response effect is absent. We hypothesize that these tumor-promoting effects may be caused by metabolic changes due to exposure. Since many of the tumor-promoting effects in our study were seen at low to moderate exposure levels (0.04 and 0.4 W/kg SAR), thus well below exposure limits for the users of mobile phones, further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Our findings may help to understand the repeatedly reported increased incidences of brain tumors in heavy users of mobile phones.
Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: a.lerchl@jacobs-university.de.
Alexander
A
Lerchl
Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: MelanieCK@gmx.de.
Melanie
M
Klose
Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: k.grote@jacobs-university.de.
Karen
K
Grote
Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: a.wilhelm@jacobs-university.de.
Adalbert F X
AF
Wilhelm
Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: spathmann@uni-wuppertal.de.
Oliver
O
Spathmann
Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: t.fiedler@dkfz-heidelberg.de.
Thomas
T
Fiedler
Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: joachim.streckert@uni-wuppertal.de.
Joachim
J
Streckert
Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: hansen@uni-wuppertal.de.
Volkert
V
Hansen
Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: clemens@uni-wuppertal.de.
Markus
M
Clemens
D040421:Cell Phone; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*
Cancer; Electromagnetic fields; Mice; Tumor promotion