RRG Evaluation: US National Toxicology Program Report “Report of Partial Findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposures).” (June 2016)

Title	Report of Partial Findings from the National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation in Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD rats (Whole Body Exposures). Draft 5-19-2016
Authors	US National Toxicology Program report.
Citation	bioRxiv preprint first posted online May. 26, 2016; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/055699

The US National Toxicology Program (NTP)* has carried out extensive rodent toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of radiofrequency radiation (RF) at frequencies and modulations used in the US telecommunications industry.

The NTP study was designed to evaluate potential, long-term health effects of whole-body RF exposures. Studies were carried out on rats and mice using exposure systems with two RF signals [Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)] at two frequencies (900 MHz for rats and 1900 MHz for mice). The exposure groups were: no RF exposure for the control group, or calculated whole-body RF exposures of 1.5 W/kg, 3 W/kg or 6 W/kg for the exposed groups. RF exposures started in utero with exposure of pregnant dams and was continued for up to 106 weeks.

The NTP reported on May 26, 2016, part of their study results found a low incidence of tumors in the brain and heart of male rats exposed to RF. This partial report was released ahead of the full study's publication, which is scheduled for the end of 2017.

JEIC considered it necessary to validate the hypothesis and asked Rapid Response Group (RRG)* to conduct review and submit a report.

Summary of the RRG's review is as follows

[Conclusions]

The available data do not alter the balance of evidence on health effects in relation to human exposure to RF fields from cell phones. This means that the current international standards limiting RF exposure to workers and the public are still safe. As one of the designated reviewers of the Report states “I am unable to accept the authors’ conclusions” (Lauer, reviewer in Report page 37). This study provides no reason to change existing international standards limiting exposure to RF.

Review of RRG

• *Note from JEIC:
  US National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP is administratively headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. NTP plays a critical role in generating, interpreting, and disseminating toxicological information about potentially hazardous substances in our environment.
  
  Rapid Response Group (RRG): The RRG provides rapid analysis of newly published scientific studies that JEIC considers important and in need of expert scientific review, ensuring that information is available to all stakeholders. The RRG is composed of a coordinator and experts from all relevant scientific fields necessary for reviewing and assessing these studies. Prof. Michael H. Repacholi (former Team Leader of the Radiation and Environmental Health Unit, World Health Organization (WHO); Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy) has served as the coordinator from the time of launch of RRG in 2010.