New study shows mobile phone radiation affects blood

February 21, 2025

Scientists have revealed the fascinating results of a new, simple and non-invasive way of testing the effects of exposure to mobile phone radiation that could have important implications for health.

US Researchers Robert R. Brown, M.D. and Barbara Biebrich conducted a series of tests on a healthy 62-year-old woman using an ultrasound machine – which creates images of the body using sound waves and is commonly used to image veins.

First, they took images of the popliteal vein of one leg, whose job is to transport blood from the limb to the heart for oxygenation. The results showed that blood was flowing normally.

Next, they placed an Apple iPhone XR on the popliteal vein for five minutes. The phone was not being used, but its Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and data were turned on, allowing the phone to both upload to and download from mobile phone base stations during that time.

After the five-minute exposure, another image was taken of the popliteal vein, revealing an altogether different picture. This time, the researchers saw white spots in the vein where blood had clumped together. They reported this as ‘abnormal heterogeneous … material sluggishly moving to and fro within the popliteal vein and nearby tributaries.’ The images showed a rouleaux formation, which occurs when red blood cells stick together, rather like a stack of coins.

Next, the woman walked around for five minutes and another image was taken, ten minutes after the previous scan. This one showed some, but less-apparent rouleaux formation.

Two months later, the series of tests was repeated and the rouleaux formation appeared again in the popliteal vein that was exposed to the mobile phone.

Finally, a third set of images was taken six weeks later. This time the popliteal veins of both legs were imaged, although the mobile phone was placed only against the right popliteal vein. Interestingly, the results showed rouleaux formation in the popliteal veins of both legs.

The authors say, ‘The presence of rouleaux formation on ultrasound indicates these surface charges of the RBCs (red blood cells) have weakened thus allowing the cells to adhere to one another. The experiment therefore indicates the cell membrane potential of the RBCs change upon exposure to EMFs.’

They suggest that this could be a serious problem for health because it can impair blood flow and hence the delivery of oxygen through the circulatory system.

They say, ‘Although rouleaux formation is recognized as a transient phenomenon, we hypothesize that habitual cellphone usage, common in the population, would re-expose individuals over and over again to this abnormal hematologic state. Chronic, long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation may therefore lead to recurrent, chronic RBC aggregation and increased blood viscosity, potentially causing significant morbidity in certain patient populations, particularly diabetics and those with hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular insufficiency, prethrombotic states, and peripheral vascular disease. Recognizing the potential for red blood cell aggregation from radiofrequency radiation to occur in the general population is crucial.’

The authors point out that the woman was not consciously of the changes that were taking place in her body during the study.

They also say that the technology used in the Apple iPhone XR is similar to that used by other mobile phones, so the impact are not likely to be restricted to just a single model of phone.

‘This study provides a visual confirmation that radiofrequency radiation is having effects on the body that are unrelated to heat, says Brown. ‘We need to delve deeper to better understand these biological effects and put the concept of specific absorption rate (SAR) to rest.’

Robert R. Brown and Barbara Biebrich, Hypothesis: ultrasonography can document dynamic in vivo rouleaux formation due to mobile phone exposure, Front. Cardiovasc. Med, 11 February 2025, Sec. Atherosclerosis and Vascular Medicine, Volume 12 - 2025

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