RRG reviewed the paper of Lerchl et al.

　The paper "Tumor promotion by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below exposure limits for humans."　was published in an academic journal "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications"（March,2015).

 The authors mentioned "We have performed a replication study using higher numbers of animals per group and including two additional exposure levels (0 (sham), 0.04, 0.4 and 2 W/kg SAR). We could confirm and extend the originally reported findings. Numbers of tumors of the lungs and livers in exposed animals were significantly higher than in sham-exposed controls. In addition, lymphomas were also found to be significantly elevated by exposure. A clear dose–response effect is absent."

　Japan EMF Information Center (JEIC) received the review by Rapid Response Group*1 (RRG). We introduce the summary of RRG review.

【Title】

Tumor promotion by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below exposure limits for humans.

【Authors】

Lerchl A et al.

【Journal】

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communicatons| Available online 6 March 2015| DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.151

【Conclusion】

　While this study was well-conducted and the results are generally consistent with those of the Tillmann pilot study, the incidence of both benign and malignant lung tumours in the Lerchl study following RF exposure was approximately half those reported by Tillmann.
However, the lack of any dose response, which is not discussed by the authors in much detail, makes the study results much less convincing. Lerchl and colleagues suggest that RF exposure may have caused local thermal effects resulting in metabolic or blood flow changes in the mother and/or foetus that resulted in turn in changes in biokinetics of the ENU. However, if this thermal explanation were correct, it would suggest that the greatest effects would have been obtained using the highest SAR, and this was not seen. At present, no mechanistic explanation can be offered for these results. The authors offer no convincing explanation why exposure at 0.4 W/kg and not the higher exposure, should have the most consistent effect on tumour promotion.　

Overall, the results of the Lerchl study only provide a hypothesis for further animal studies to be conducted, using a similar but more advanced model (BALB/c or transgenic mice) to determine whether RF exposure has any tumour promoting effect. Given that the results did not find any effect on brain tumours, this does not provide any support for the few epidemiological studies reporting an increase in brain tumours from heavy mobile phone use.

＜See the file below for details＞

*1　RRG： A part of the network group of the experts organized by JEIC.
               Scientific papers Review Group representative: Professor Michael H. Repacholi