# RF-005 — DNA damage in selected rodent tissues

Why this matters
DNA carries the instructions cells need to function. This NTP experiment found more DNA damage in particular rodent tissues using one test, while another test was negative. Whether these changes persist and help explain disease remains important. This shared programme is distinct from independent confirmation.

Id: RF-005

Author: Smith-Roe et al.

Full Authors: Stephanie L. Smith-Roe; Michael E. Wyde; Matthew D. Stout; John W. Winters; Cheryl A. Hobbs; Kim G. Shepard; Amanda S. Green; Grace E. Kissling; Keith R. Shockley; Raymond R. Tice; John R. Bucher; Kristine L. Witt

Year: 2020

Title: Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure

Journal: environmental and molecular mutagenesis

Citation: Smith-Roe SL, Wyde ME, Stout MD, Winters JW, Hobbs CA, Shepard KG, Green AS, Kissling GE, Shockley KR, Tice RR, Bucher JR, Witt KL. Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cell phone radiofrequency radiation in male and female rats and mice following subchronic exposure. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. 2020;61(2):276-290. doi:10.1002/em.22343.

Doi: 10.1002/em.22343

Pmid: 31633839

Topic: DNA and cell responses

Verification Group: Original text reviewed

Record Role: Original text reviewed

Featured: True

Exposure: Rats: 900 MHz, 1.5-6 W/kg, about 19 weeks; mice: 1900 MHz, 2.5-10 W/kg, 14 weeks; GSM/CDMA.

Design: Five animals per sex/dose/modulation for genotoxicity; 100- and 150-cell analyses reported.

Finding: Comet assays found increased DNA damage in male-mouse frontal cortex, female-mouse blood and male-rat hippocampus under specified conditions. Micronucleus assays were negative.

Boundary: Hippocampal significance depended on cell-scoring approach. Pilot work informed temperature limits; temperature was not monitored during this genotoxicity experiment.

Related: NTP interim cohort, not an independent laboratory replication of RF-001.

Protection Question: Do the tissue-specific DNA-test changes persist or connect to disease? Their significance depends on assay agreement and downstream function. Shared NTP animals and programme links do not provide independent confirmation of the cancer finding.

Access: Original indexed methods/results reviewed in earlier verification work; discussion/disclosures rechecked

Locator: Results and Discussion; figure captions; statistical methods

Notice: Primary PubMed linked-notice record checked 20 Oct 2026; no correction, concern or retraction linked at check. This is not an exhaustive publisher-history certification.

Funding: NTP contracts HHSN291200555544, N01-ES-35514 and HHSN273201300009C; NIH NIEHS intramural programme ZIA ES103316-04.

Conflicts: Authors state no competing financial interests.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22343

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22343 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31633839/

Verification Date: 2026-10-20