Introduction

Cell Phones

Cell phones are currently used by 95% of American adults. NIEHS and other scientific organizations are actively studying the potential health effects of radio frequency radiation used in cell phones.

Fact Sheets

Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Studies

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What is NIEHS Doing?

The National Toxicology Program (NTP), headquartered at NIEHS, has conducted toxicology studies in rats and mice to help clarify potential health hazards, including cancer risk, from exposure to radio frequency radiation like that used in 2G and 3G cell phones.

What did the studies find?

The NTP studies found that high exposure to RFR used by cell phones resulted in:

• Clear evidence of tumors in the hearts of male rats. The tumors were malignant schwannomas.
• Some evidence of tumors in the brains of male rats. The tumors were malignant gliomas.
• Some evidence of tumors in the adrenal glands of male rats. The tumors were benign, malignant, or complex combined pheochromocytoma.

For female rats, and male and female mice, it was unclear if tumors observed in the studies were associated with RFR used by cell phones. This is also known as equivocal evidence.

The final conclusions represent the consensus between NTP and a panel of external scientific experts who thoroughly reviewed the NTP draft technical reports at a public meeting in March 2018.

The results are based on NTP’s four categories of evidence that a substance may cause cancer: clear evidence (highest), some evidence, equivocal evidence, no evidence (lowest).

Further Reading

Stories from the Environmental Factor (NIEHS Newsletter)

• High exposure to radio frequency radiation associated with cancer in male rats (November 2018)
• NTP Cell Phone Studies — Experts Recommend Elevated Conclusions (April 2018)
• NTP Releases Rodent Studies on Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation (June 2016)

Press Releases

• High Exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation Linked to Tumor Activity in Male Rats (Feb. 2, 2018)

Additional Resources

• Cell Phones and Cancer Risk Fact Sheet - National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Consumer Update on Cell Phones - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Fact Sheet on Mobile Phones - World Health Organization (WHO)
• IARC Classifies Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans - The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use.
• Tips for reducing exposure to radiofrequency radiation

Related Health Topics

• Electric & Magnetic Fields
• Toxicology

Research Links

• Michael Wyde, Mark Cesta, Chad Blystone, Susan Elmore, Paul Foster, Michelle Hooth, Grace Kissling, David Malarkey, Robert Sills, Matthew Stout, Nigel Walker, Kristine Witt, Mary Wolfe, John Bucher. 2016. Report of Partial findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposure) bioRxiv 055699. [Abstract Michael Wyde, Mark Cesta, Chad Blystone, Susan Elmore, Paul Foster, Michelle Hooth, Grace Kissling, David Malarkey, Robert Sills, Matthew Stout, Nigel Walker, Kristine Witt, Mary Wolfe, John Bucher. 2016. Report of Partial findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposure) bioRxiv 055699.] [doi:10.1101/055699 Michael Wyde, Mark Cesta, Chad Blystone, Susan Elmore, Paul Foster, Michelle Hooth, Grace Kissling, David Malarkey, Robert Sills, Matthew Stout, Nigel Walker, Kristine Witt, Mary Wolfe, John Bucher. 2016. Report of Partial findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposure) bioRxiv 055699.] [PDF Michael Wyde, Mark Cesta, Chad Blystone, Susan Elmore, Paul Foster, Michelle Hooth, Grace Kissling, David Malarkey, Robert Sills, Matthew Stout, Nigel Walker, Kristine Witt, Mary Wolfe, John Bucher. 2016. Report of Partial findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposure) bioRxiv 055699.]