Tumor promotion by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below exposure limits for humans. Author: Lerchl A1, Klose M2, Grote K3, Wilhelm AF4, Spathmann O5, Fiedler T6, Streckert J7, Hansen V8, Clemens M9. Affiliation: 1Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: a.lerchl@jacobs-university.de. 2Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: MelanieCK@gmx.de. 3Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: k.grote@jacobs-university.de. 4Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, D-28759 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: a.wilhelm@jacobs-university.de. 5Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: spathmann@uni-wuppertal.de. 6Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: t.fiedler@dkfz-heidelberg.de. 7Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: joachim.streckert@uni-wuppertal.de. 8Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: hansen@uni-wuppertal.de. 9Chair of Electromagnetic Theory, University of Wuppertal, Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21, D-42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: clemens@uni-wuppertal.de. Conference/Journal: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Date published: 2015 Mar 5 Other: Pages: S0006-291X(15)00398-8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.151 , Word Count: 208 Abstract The vast majority of in vitro and in vivo studies did not find cancerogenic effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), i.e. emitted by mobile phones and base stations. Previously published results from a pilot study with carcinogen-treated mice, however, suggested tumor-promoting effects of RF-EMF (Tillmann et al., 2010). 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. We hypothesize that these tumor-promoting effects may be caused by metabolic changes due to exposure. Since many of the tumor-promoting effects in our study were seen at low to moderate exposure levels (0.04 and 0.4 W/kg SAR), thus well below exposure limits for the users of mobile phones, further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Our findings may help to understand the repeatedly reported increased incidences of brain tumors in heavy users of mobile phones. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc. KEYWORDS: Electromagnetic fields; cancer; mice; tumor promotion PMID: 25749340