Electric fields are produced by voltage (electrical pressure) and exist whenever a device is plugged in, even if turned off. They are measured in volts per meter (V/m). Electric fields can be blocked by walls and most materials, but often concentrate near ungrounded wiring and electronics.
Based on Building Biology Institute guidelines (V/m (volts per meter)):
Showing 294 studies with measured electric fields exposure
Trosić I et al. · 2011
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (915 MHz) for one hour daily over two weeks. DNA damage was found in liver and kidney cells using comet assay testing. This suggests short-term radiofrequency exposure at cell phone levels can cause genetic damage in organs.
Gajski G, Garaj-Vrhovac V. · 2009
Researchers investigated whether bee venom could protect against DNA damage caused by 915-MHz microwave radiation in Wistar rat lymphocytes. Whole blood lymphocytes were treated with 1 μg/mL bee venom before irradiation, and comet assays were used to assess basal and oxidative DNA damage. Bee venom showed a decrease in DNA damage compared with irradiated samples, and was found to have a radioprotective effect against both basal and oxidative DNA damage.
Unknown authors · 1968
Chizhenkova RA · 1967
Parazzini M et al. · 2009
Participants received 20 minutes of genuine or sham RF exposure at maximum phone output with 69 mW/kg SAR in the cochlea region. Auditory function was measured before and after exposure using hearing thresholds, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory evoked potentials. No consistent pattern of effects was found, and an isolated high-frequency threshold change was not statistically significant after multiple comparison correction. Researchers concluded that short-term UMTS exposure at maximum consumer phone output does not cause measurable immediate auditory effects.
Pilla AA · 2012
Researchers tested how a non-thermal pulse-modulated RF signal affected nitric oxide release in dopaminergic MN9D neuronal cells challenged with lipopolysaccharides and in human fibroblast cultures challenged with low serum. In dopaminergic MN9D cultures, the signal produced an immediate nearly three-fold increase in nitric oxide, measured in real-time using a nitric oxide selective membrane electrode. In human fibroblast cultures challenged with low serum and exposed for 15 minutes to the same signal, nitric oxide increased nearly two-fold, and this increase could be blocked by the calmodulin antagonist W-7.
Djordjevic B et al. · 2015
Serbian researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 4 hours daily over 20-60 days and found significant liver damage, including increased oxidative stress and cellular damage markers. When rats were also given melatonin supplements, the treatment partially protected against some of the radiation-induced liver damage. This suggests that microwave radiation can harm liver function, but natural antioxidants like melatonin may offer some protection.
Djordjevic B et al. · 2015
Researchers studied whether melatonin treatment (2 mg/kg) might favorably impact liver tissue in rats exposed to microwave radiation. The experiment used 84 six-weeks-old Wistar male rats exposed for 4 hours a day to microwaves at 900 MHz for 20, 40, and 60 days. Microwave exposure increased malondialdehyde after 40 days, protein carbonyl content after 20 days, and catalase and xanthine oxidase activity after 40 days. Melatonin reduced malondialdehyde after 40 days but had no effect on the other analyzed parameters.
Maskey D et al. · 2010
Researchers investigated the effect of 835-MHz radiofrequency exposure on rat hippocampus for 3 months using immunohistochemical methods. A decrease in calbindin immunoreactivity was observed in the exposed group, with loss of interneurons and pyramidal cells in the CA1 area and loss of granule cells. An overall increase in GFAP immunoreactivity was observed in the hippocampus of exposed rats, and apoptotic cells were detected in the CA1, CA3 areas and dentate gyrus.
Romano-Spica V, Mucci N, Ursini CL, Ianni A, Bhat NK · 2000
Researchers analyzed gene expression in hemopoietic and testicular cell types after exposure to 50 MHz radiofrequency radiation modulated at 16 Hz. They observed overexpression of ets1 mRNA in Jurkat T-lymphoblastoid and Leydig TM3 cell lines only when the 16 Hz modulation was present. A putative candidate gene was also repressed after EMF exposure.
Unknown authors · 1977
In 1977, Health and Welfare Canada conducted a safety assessment of electromagnetic radiation exposure levels in and around Toronto's CN Tower, which was then the world's tallest structure. This government report evaluated potential health risks from the tower's broadcast antennas and transmission equipment. The study represents an early official examination of EMF exposure from major broadcasting infrastructure in urban environments.
Unknown authors · 1982
Paul S. Ruggera · 1980
Unknown authors · 1986
The EPA proposed four alternative approaches to limit public exposure to radiofrequency radiation. Three options are regulatory and would set whole-body average SAR limits of 0.04, 0.08, and 0.4 W/kg for frequencies above 3 MHz. For frequencies below 3 MHz, the regulatory options would limit electric field intensity to 87, 275, and 614 V/m and magnetic field intensity to 0.23, 0.73, and -1.63 A/m respectively. The fourth option is nonregulatory and would use information and technical assistance programs instead of adopting Federal Guidance.
Joseph W, Goeminne F, Vermeeren G, Verloock L, Martens L. · 2012
Researchers assessed electromagnetic exposure from 14 types of air traffic control systems for both workers and the general public. In total, 50 sites were investigated at 1,073 locations in the frequency range of 255 kHz to 24 GHz. Two system types, Non-Directional Beacons (up to 881.6 V m) and DVOR (up to 92.3 V m), exhibited levels requiring recommended minimum distances so that ICNIRP reference levels are not exceeded. When multiple radiofrequency sources were present together, the air traffic control source was found to dominate total exposure in its neighborhood.
Cleary, SF, Du, Z, Cao, G, Liu, LM, McCrady, C · 1996
Researchers investigated the effects of RF radiation exposure on interleukin 2 (IL-2) -dependent proliferation of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLL-2). At specific absorption rates greater than 25 W/kg, exposure produced a consistent, statistically significant reduction in CTLL-2 proliferation, especially at low IL-2 concentrations. At lower SARs, 2450 MHz exposure increased CTLL-2 proliferation immediately after exposure but reduced 24 h postexposure proliferation. The researchers found significant qualitative and quantitative differences between the effects of temperature elevation and RF radiation.
T. S. Tenforde · 1980
Unknown authors
Carrubba S, Frilot C 2nd, Chesson AL Jr, Marino AA · 2010
Researchers recorded EEGs from six standard locations in 20 volunteers to detect brain potentials triggered by a pulse of the type produced by mobile phones. Evoked potentials having the expected latency were found in 90% of the volunteers, as assessed using a nonlinear method of EEG analysis. Evoked potentials were not detected when the EEG was analyzed using time averaging. The possibility of systematic error was excluded by sham-exposure analyses.
Mueller CH, Krueger H, Schierz C · 2002
This double-blind laboratory experiment tested whether people can perceive a 50 Hz electric and magnetic field at 100 V/m and 6 μT, and whether self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is related to that ability. A total of 63 volunteers, 49 with self-reported EHS and 14 controls, each judged 10 sham and 10 exposed two-minute blocks in randomized order. Seven of the 63 subjects reached a statistically significant result, but there was no relevant difference between self-reported EHS subjects and controls in perception success rate or in the number and types of symptoms reported.
Zhao Z, Zhang S, Zho H, Zhang S, Su J, Li L, · 1994
Researchers examined 121 workers exposed to radiofrequency radiation below 30 MHz for over one year, divided into high-intensity (>=100 V/m) and low-intensity (<100 V/m) groups compared to controls. No significant changes in autonomic nervous system functioning or blood parameters (hemoglobin, white blood cells, platelets) occurred in either exposed group. However, ECG changes including ST-T interval alterations and abnormal heart rate were observed in the high-intensity exposure group. The authors suggested 100 V/m as an exposure limit for radiofrequency radiation below 30 MHz.
R. Gavalas-Medici, S. R. Magdaleno · 1975
Mitchell JC, Hurt WD, Walters WH · 1974
E. D. Finch, B. D. McLees · 1973
This 1973 research examined how radiofrequency radiation affects three important proteins in the body: gamma globulin (part of immune function), acetylcholinesterase (crucial for nerve signaling), and chymotrypsin (involved in digestion). The study represents early scientific investigation into whether RF energy can alter critical biological molecules that keep our bodies functioning properly.
W. W. Mumford · 1961
This 1961 study by W.W. Mumford examined the technical aspects of microwave radiation hazards, focusing on power density levels, exposure limits, and safety standards for radar and other microwave sources. The research addressed thermal effects and established early frameworks for understanding microwave radiation risks to human health.