This review summarizes studies reporting radiofrequency radiation (RFR)-associated changes in gene expression across biological systems. Reported affected genes relate to cellular stress responses, oxidative processes, apoptosis, DNA damage detection/repair, protein repair, and neural function regulation. The authors highlight reported gene expression effects at or below 0.4 W/kg SAR and argue this challenges current guideline assumptions, while noting that not all studies find significant effects.

This animal and in vitro study examined non-thermal 900 MHz RF-EMF exposure during prenatal and postnatal development at 0.08 and 0.4 W/kg SAR. The authors report changes consistent with altered neurodevelopment, including reduced BDNF, reduced in vivo cell proliferation, and disrupted synaptic balance in rat pup brain regions. In vitro, exposed neural stem cells showed increased apoptosis and DNA double-strand breaks and shifts in cell populations toward glial lineages. The authors conclude that regulatory-level 900 MHz exposure can disrupt key neurodevelopmental processes in rodents.