Commentary on NTP cell phone data for assessing human health risks despite unfounded criticisms aimed at minimizing findings

Abstract

Commentary on NTP cell phone data for assessing human health risks despite unfounded criticisms aimed at minimizing findings Melnick RL. Commentary on the utility of the National Toxicology Program study on cell phone radiofrequency radiation data for assessing human health risks despite unfounded criticisms aimed at minimizing the findings of adverse health effects. Environ Res. 2018 Sep 19;168:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.010. Abstract The National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted two-year studies of cell phone radiation in rats and mice exposed to CDMA- or GSM-modulated radiofrequency radiation (RFR) at exposure intensities in the brain of rats that were similar to or only slightly higher than potential, localized human exposures from cell phones held next to the head. This study was designed to test the (null) hypothesis that cell phone radiation at non-thermal exposure intensities could not cause adverse health effects, and to provide dose-response data for any detected toxic or carcinogenic effects. Partial findings released from that study showed significantly increased incidences and/or trends for gliomas and glial cell hyperplasias in the brain and schwannomas and Schwann cell hyperplasias in the heart of exposed male rats. These results, as well as the findings of significantly increased DNA damage (strand breaks) in the brains of exposed rats and mice, reduced pup birth weights when pregnant dams were exposed to GSM- or CDMA-modulated RFR, and the induction of cardiomyopathy of the right ventricle in male and female rats clearly demonstrate that the null hypothesis has been disproved. The NTP findings are most important because the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RFR as a "possible human carcinogen" based largely on increased risks of gliomas and acoustic neuromas (which are Schwann cell tumors on the acoustic nerve) among long term users of cell phones. The concordance between rats and humans in cell type affected by RFR strengthens the animal-to-human association. This commentary addresses several unfounded criticisms about the design and results of the NTP study that have been promoted to minimize the utility of the experimental data on RFR for assessing human health risks. In contrast to those criticisms, an expert peer-review panel recently concluded that the NTP studies were well designed, and that the results demonstrated that both GSM- and CDMA-modulated RFR were carcinogenic to the heart (schwannomas) and brain (gliomas) of male rats. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This commentary summarizes partial findings from the NTP two-year rat and mouse studies of GSM- and CDMA-modulated radiofrequency radiation, reporting significantly increased incidences and/or trends for gliomas/glial cell hyperplasias in brain and schwannomas/Schwann cell hyperplasias in heart of exposed male rats, along with increased DNA strand breaks, reduced pup birth weights with gestational exposure, and induction of right-ventricle cardiomyopathy in rats. It states that an expert peer-review panel concluded the NTP studies were well designed and that results demonstrated GSM- and CDMA-modulated RFR were carcinogenic to the heart and brain of male rats.

Outcomes measured

• Gliomas
• Glial cell hyperplasias
• Schwannomas (heart)
• Schwann cell hyperplasias
• DNA damage (strand breaks)
• Pup birth weight
• Cardiomyopathy (right ventricle)
• Carcinogenicity/toxic effects

Limitations

• Commentary article (not an original experimental report)
• Frequency and SAR/exposure metrics not specified in the abstract
• Sample sizes not provided
• Mentions 'partial findings' from the NTP study rather than full dataset details

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.32)
  Discusses IARC classification of RFR and implications for human health risk assessment.

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "two-year studies"
    },
    "population": "Rats and mice (National Toxicology Program studies); commentary discusses relevance to humans",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Gliomas",
        "Glial cell hyperplasias",
        "Schwannomas (heart)",
        "Schwann cell hyperplasias",
        "DNA damage (strand breaks)",
        "Pup birth weight",
        "Cardiomyopathy (right ventricle)",
        "Carcinogenicity/toxic effects"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This commentary summarizes partial findings from the NTP two-year rat and mouse studies of GSM- and CDMA-modulated radiofrequency radiation, reporting significantly increased incidences and/or trends for gliomas/glial cell hyperplasias in brain and schwannomas/Schwann cell hyperplasias in heart of exposed male rats, along with increased DNA strand breaks, reduced pup birth weights with gestational exposure, and induction of right-ventricle cardiomyopathy in rats. It states that an expert peer-review panel concluded the NTP studies were well designed and that results demonstrated GSM- and CDMA-modulated RFR were carcinogenic to the heart and brain of male rats.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Commentary article (not an original experimental report)",
        "Frequency and SAR/exposure metrics not specified in the abstract",
        "Sample sizes not provided",
        "Mentions 'partial findings' from the NTP study rather than full dataset details"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "National Toxicology Program",
        "NTP",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "RFR",
        "cell phone",
        "GSM",
        "CDMA",
        "rats",
        "mice",
        "glioma",
        "schwannoma",
        "DNA damage",
        "cardiomyopathy",
        "birth weight",
        "IARC"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.320000000000000006661338147750939242541790008544921875,
            "reason": "Discusses IARC classification of RFR and implications for human health risk assessment."
        }
    ]
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.