National Toxicology Program Peer Review Report From Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Study Peer Review March 26–28, 2018  

The National Toxicology Program has released the Peer Review Report documenting the proceedings and recommendations of the peer reviewers at the National Toxicology Program Peer Review Meeting of the Draft NTP Technical Reports on Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation held March 26–28, 2018 at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences  Research Triangle Park, NC.

At the end of the March 26–28, 2018 Peer review meeting the experts reviewers voted to increase the level of confidence for seven tumor types. The malignant schwannomas found in male rats were deemed “clear evidence” of cancer. The malignant gliomas in the brain, and pheochromocytoma in the adrenal medulla (GSM only) of male rats were deemed “some evidence” of cancer.  Increased right ventricular cardiomyopathy in the heart was found in the exposed groups. In addition, several other tumors were increased in the exposed groups and DNA damage was found in various organs.

Download the NIEHS/NTP Peer Review Report

Download NIEHS/NTP issued PDF of Peer Reviewers Conclusions

Download Presentation by Dr. Michael Wyde NTP Summarizing the NTP

On June 20, 2018 Drs. Chad Blystone and Michael Wyde made presentations to the NTP’s Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting that summarize the study findings.

“At the end of the 2-year studies, increased incidences were observed in malignant schwannomas and right ventricular cardiomyopathy in the heart, malignant gliomas in the brain, and pheochromocytoma in the adrenal medulla (GSM only) of male rats. A number of neoplastic lesions were also observed that were considered equivocal findings that may have been related to RFR exposure in male (brain (granular cell tumors), pituitary gland, prostate, liver, adrenal gland, and pancreas) and female rats (heart, brain, and adrenal gland)”

“In the rat studies, exposures were initiated in utero and consistently resulted in exposure concentration-related decreases in pup body weight and body weight gains during the perinatal period. In general, decreased pup survival was observed at the higher levels of RFR tested. Increased DNA damage in cells of the hippocampus and frontal cortex was observed in RFR-exposed male mice from the CDMA study.”

“The primary finding observed in mice in these studies was increased DNA damage in cells of the frontal cortex of RFR-exposed male mice (both GSM and CDMA). This finding was not associated with any change in brain tumors in the 2-year studies; however, elevated incidences of neoplastic lesions were observed in male (skin and lung) and female mice (malignant lymphomas).”

-Summary of findings by Dr. Michael Wyde

presented to Board of Scientific Counselors in June 2018 Meeting

What were the conclusions of the expert peer reviewers?

On March 26-28, 2018 the expert peer review panel voted on the following recommendations.

Evidence of Carcinogenicity in Rat Studies

• The increases in malignant schwannoma in the heart in male rats exposed to both *GSM and *CDMA cell phone modulated RFR is clear evidence of carcinogenic activity.
• The increases in malignant glioma in the brain in in male rats exposed to both *GSM and *CDMA cell phone modulated RFR is some evidence of carcinogenic activity
• The increases in pheochromocytoma in the adrenal medulla of male rats exposed to *GSM cell phone modulated RFR is  some evidence of carcinogenic activity

The following tumor endpoints were voted as “ equivocal” as there was a marginal increase of neoplasms that may be related to the exposure.

Equivocal findings from studies on rats exposed to cell phone RFR at 900 MHz

• Increases in malignant schwannomas in the heart in female rats *GSM and *CDMA
• Increases in malignant glioma in the brain of female rats CDMA
• The increases in adenoma or carcinoma in the prostate gland in male rats GSM.
• Increases in benign or malignant granular cell tumors in the brain in male rats GSM.
• Increases in adenoma in the pars distalis of the pituitary gland in male rats  GSM and CDMA.
• Increases in pancreatic islet cell adenoma or carcinoma in male rats GSM.
• Increases in nonneoplastic lesions in the heart, brain, and prostate gland in male rats  GSM.
• Increases in  adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in the liver in male rats exposed to CDMA.
• Increases in pheochromocytoma (benign, malignant, or complex combined) in the adrenal medulla of female rats CDMA.

Equivocal findings from studies on mice exposed to cell phone RFR at 1,900 MHz

• Increases in malignant lymphoma (all organs) in female mice GSM and CDMA
• Increased combined incidences of fibrosarcoma, sarcoma, or malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the skin in male mice GSM.
• Increased alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in the lung in male mice GSM.
• Increases in hepatoblastoma in the liver of male mice CDMA

Regarding the increases in nonneoplastic lesions found after exposure, the panel voted to accept unanimously the following:

• Increases in nonneoplastic lesions in the heart, brain, and prostate gland of male rats occurred with exposures to GSM cell phone RFR at 900 MHz.
• Increases in nonneoplastic lesions in the heart, thyroid gland, and adrenal gland in female rats occurred with exposures to GSM cell phone RFR at 900 MHz.
• Increases in nonneoplastic lesions of the heart, brain, and prostate gland occurred in male rats  exposed to CDMA cell phone RFR at 900 MHz.
• Increases in nonneoplastic lesions of the brain in female rats  exposed to CDMA cell phone RFR at 900 MHz.

* The peer reviewers recommended an elevated conclusion for seven cancer endpoints. Thus their classification was increased  to a higher level of confidence (than was stated in the 2/2018 issued draft reports) as to the association between the RFR exposure and cancer.

Note on DNA Damage found in the NTP

DNA damage was significantly increased in the frontal cortex of male mice (both modulations GSM and CDMA), peripheral leukocytes of female mice (CDMA only), and hippocampus of male rats (CDMA only). “These results suggest that exposure to RFR has the potential to induce measurable DNA damage under certain exposure conditions,” stated the NTP scientists in this PDF presentation (9/2017) of the NTP Genotoxicity findings.

National Toxicology Program Peer Review of the Draft NTP Technical Reports on Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation March 26–28, 2018 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Research Triangle Park, NC

PDF presentation (9/2017) of the NTP Genotoxicity DNA Damage findings.

Evaluation of Genotoxicity of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Male and f the Genot d Female notoxicity e Rats and y Ce d Mice ell Ra e Following g Subchronic ncy c Exposure Poster

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

EHT Press Release:  “Clear Evidence Of Cancer” Concludes U.S. National Toxicology Program Expert Panel On Cell Phone Radiation

The News and Observer News Article “Can your cellphone cause cancer? Scientists find definitive link in study of rats.”

Scientists Recommend Stronger Indications of RF Causing Tumors in Rats, Radio Resource International  Magazine

Ramazzini Study On Radiofrequency Cell Phone Radiation: The World’s Largest Animal Study On Cell Tower Radiation Confirms Cancer Link

The NIEHS National Toxicology Program Study On Cell Phone Radiation And Cancer: 2018 Update Full Resources and Links

National Toxicology Program Peer Review Report From Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Study Peer Review March 26–28, 2018