WASHINGTON-A new study by University of Washington researcher Henry Lai suggests rats exposed to cell phone microwave frequencies suffered long-term memory loss.
“Studies before this one have focused more on short-term memory. In this study, the long-term memory of microwave-exposed rats appears to have been affected,” said Lai, who works in UW’s bioengineering department.
The study is expected to be published in the January issue of the professional journal Bioelectromagnetics. Previously, Lai found single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rats exposed to radio-frequency radiation from mobile phones. The wireless industry and some scientists have questioned the validity of Lai’s work.
Dr. Russell Owen, a Food and Drug Administration scientist who specializes in cell-phone radiation safety, declined to comment because he had not read the study.
FDA is working with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association to repeat two cancer studies conducted by the industry-funded Wireless Technology Research L.L.C. that had positive results.
“I think the [University of Washington] press release does not accurately reflect what we understand is in the study,” said Jo-Anne Basile, who oversees wireless health issues at CTIA.
Basile said she believes the power level used in the experiment was far above that emitted by mobile phones, reflecting more the kind of pulsed microwaves of radar. She said the frequency level was slightly higher than that on which mobile phones operate.
As such, Basile said Lai may have misinterpreted the behavior of rats in the study as being long-term memory loss when in reality the rodents may have been exhibiting symptoms of the “auditory effect.” Some RF microwave pulses, according to Basile, can disorient animals.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is pushing legislation seeking $10 million to fund federal research to determine whether mobile phones cause cancer or other health problems. There are more than 80 million mobile phone users in the United States.
The wireless industry insists research proves phones are safe, but the FDA says more studies need to be conducted before any health problems can be ruled out.
Very little federal government research on mobile-phone safety has been conducted. Most studies have been sponsored by Motorola Inc., the nation’s top mobile communications vendor. Motorola says none of its studies on mobile phones have identified a cancer link. An Australian study a few years ago found increased cancer in rats dosed with mobile-phone radiation.
Additional research is being conducted or being planned for overseas under the auspices of the World Health Organization.
In Europe and elsewhere, some experts are advocating the “precautionary principle” with respect to mobile phones. That has been interpreted by some as limiting usage of phones and using headsets in lieu of pressing the phone against the head.
