U.S. FDA
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left page (138)
of ONYX SL91 FCC am, (11.09.2006, 11:58)
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is expected to bear on the accuracy and
repeatability of these results.
1
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 sensitive to heating, heat
alone could have caused the
abnormalities to occur. The data already
in the literature on the response of the
micronucleus assay to RF are
conflicting. Thus follow-up research is
necessary.
2
FDA is currently working with
government, 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 particular is
expected to lead to FDA providing
research recommendations and
scientific oversight of new CTIA-
funded research based on such
recommendations.
Two other studies of interest have been
reported recently in the literature:
• Two groups of 18 people were ex-
posed to simulated mobile phone sig-
nals under laboratory conditions
while they performed cognitive func-
tion tests. There were no changes in
the subjects' ability to recall words,
numbers, or pictures, or in their spa-
tial 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.
3
• In a study of 209 brain tumor cases
and 425 matched controls, there was
no increased risk of brain tumors as-
sociated with mobile phone use.
When tumors did exist in certain lo-
cations, 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
number of cases, the increased likeli-
hood was too small to be statistically
significant.
4
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
