Genotoxicity of radiofrequency radiation. DNA/Genetox Expert Panel

During the past several years, concerns have been raised regarding the potential adverse effects of exposures to nonionizing radiation, particularly in the extremely low frequency (ELF) range (50 to 60 MHz) and radiofrequency radiation (RFR) with frequencies ranging from 30 KHz to 30,000 MHz. One focus of concern has been potential DNA interactions. Publications reviewing the genotoxicity of ELF radiation [McCann et al. (1993): Mutat Res 297(1):61-95; Murphy et al. (1993): Mutat Res 296:221-240; NAS (1997)], have been uniform in concluding that the weight of evidence does not indicate any genotoxic risk from exposure to this type of radiation. Concern that RFR may be associated with adverse biological effects [WHO, 1993], including recent allegations that they may be involved in the production of brain tumors in humans [Elmer-Dewit (1993): Time, February 8:42], has resulted in the production of a large number of publications describing the effects of RFR on the integrity of nucleic acids. Data from studies conducted in a frequency range from 800 to 3,000 MHz were reviewed and subjected to a weight-of-evidence evaluation. The evaluation focused on direct toxicological effects of RFR as well as on studies addressing basic biological responses to RFR at the cellular and molecular level. The data from over 100 studies suggest that RFR is not directly mutagenic and that adverse effects from exposure of organisms to high frequencies and high power intensities of RFR are predominantly the result of hyperthermia; however, there may be some subtle indirect effects on the replication and/or transcription of genes under relatively restricted exposure conditions.