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SX1 K1 am-en, A31008-H6500-A5-1-7619 (29. July 2003, 19:31)
study of brain cancers by the
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 Cellular Telecommunications
Industry Association (CTIA) in partic-
U.S. FDA
1
ular is expected to lead to FDA pro-
viding research recommendations
and scientific oversight of new CTIA-
funded research based on such rec-
ommendations.
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 laboratory
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 variables 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, how-
ever, 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 likeli-
hood was too small to be
statistically significant.
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