ICNIRP note: Critical evaluation of two radiofrequency electromagnetic field animal carcinogenicity studies published in 2018

Final results are now available from two large animalstudies that investigated whether long-term exposure to radiofre-quency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) associated with mobile(or cell) phones or base stations is carcinogenic; these studies halefrom the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the RamazziniInstitute in Italy, respectively. In both cases, the authors concludedthat they had demonstrated that RF EMFs are carcinogenic in malerats but not in female rats or mice (NTP only). The InternationalCommission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) hasevaluated their methods and findings for potential information aboutthe carcinogenicity of exposure to RF EMFs. We found that thesestudies had important strengths; for example, both followed goodlaboratory practice (GLP), both used much larger numbers of ani-mals than previous research, and both exposed animals over thewhole of their lives. We also noted some major weaknesses, includinga lack of blinding, difficulties interpreting statistical analyses due tothe association between longer lifespans and tumor occurrence inthe exposed rats (NTP only), and failure to account for hance. ICNIRP concluded that these substantial limitations preclude con-clusions being drawn concerning RF EMFs and carcinogenesis.