Japan's mobile phone operators, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI Corporation, Vodafone KK and TU-KA Cellular Tokyo have reported interim findings that radio frequency energy from mobile phone base stations does not affect human cells.

Using four human cell lines, two containing established infant and foetal fibroblast cells and two containing cerebral tumour tissues, and examining about 20,000 genes in the human genome (approximately half of those identified), researchers found no effect on cell proliferation, gene expression profile or DNA single-strand breaks. According to a statement from NTT DoCoMo, the results seem to indicate the safety of radio waves, not least since the radio waves used in the experiment were up to 10 times stronger than the limit set forth in radio frequency radiation protection guidelines for base stations.

Mitsubishi Chemical Safety Institute Ltd provided support for the research. In addition, biochemical aspects of the research were commissioned to Professor Junji Miyakoshi of Hirosaki University and engineering aspects to Professor Toshio Nojima of Hokkaido University. The findings will be announced at the Bioelectromagnetics (BEMS) Annual Meeting 2005 from June 19 to 24 in Ireland and have also been submitted to the BEMS Journal. The study has already been registered in the WHO database. The companies say they intend to continue their research and publish further results.
John Williamson