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134
National Cancer Institute is expected
to bear on the accuracy and repeat-
ability of these results.
2. Researchers conducted a large
battery of laboratory tests to assess
the effects of exposure to mobile
phone RF on genetic material. These
included tests for several kinds of
abnormalities, including mutations,
chromosomal aberrations, DNA
strand breaks, and structural
changes in the genetic material of
blood cells called lymphocytes. None
of the tests showed any effect of the
RF except for the micronucleus
assay, which detects structural
effects on the genetic material. The
cells in this assay showed changes
after exposure to simulated cell
phone radiation, but only after 24
hours of exposure. It is possible that
exposing the test cells to radiation
for this long resulted in heating.
Since this assay is known to be sensi-
tive to heating, heat alone could
have caused the abnormalities to
occur. The data already in the litera-
ture on the response of the micronu-
cleus assay to RF are conflicting.
Thus follow-up research is neces-
sary.
2
FDA is currently working with gov-
ernment, industry, and academic
groups to ensure the proper follow-
up to these industry-funded research
findings. Collaboration with the Cel-
lular Telecommunications Internet
Association (CTIA) in particular is
expected to lead to FDA providing
U.S. FDA
1
research recommendations and sci-
entific oversight of new CTIA-funded
research based on such recommen-
dations.
Two other studies of interest have
been reported recently in the litera-
ture:
• Two groups of 18 people were exposed to
simulated mobile phone signals under lab-
oratory conditions while they performed
cognitive function tests. There were no
changes in the subjects' ability to recall
words, numbers, or pictures, or in their
spatial memory, but they were able to
make choices more quickly in one visual
test when they were exposed to simulated
mobile phone signals. This was the only
change noted among more than 20 vari-
ables compared.
• In a study of 209 brain tumor cases and
425 matched controls, there was no
increased risk of brain tumors associated
with mobile phone use. When tumors did
exist in certain locations, however, they
were more likely to be on the side of the
head where the mobile phone was used.
Because this occurred in only a small num-
ber of cases, the increased likelihood was
too small to be statistically significant.
In summary, we do not have enough
information at this point to assure
the public that there are, or are not,
any low incident health problems
associated with use of mobile
phones. FDA continues to work with
all parties, including other federal
agencies and industry, to assure that
research is undertaken to provide
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