6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
All Exposure Types

Radio Frequency (RF)

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Radio frequency electromagnetic fields are produced by wireless communication devices and broadcast signals. They range from about 3 kHz to 300 GHz and include frequencies used by cell phones, WiFi, Bluetooth, and 5G. RF is typically measured in microwatts per square meter (µW/m²) or milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²).

Concern Level Thresholds

Based on Building Biology Institute guidelines (µW/m² (microwatts per square meter)):

No Concern
< 0.1 µW/m²
Slight Concern
0.1 – 10 µW/m²
Severe Concern
10 – 1,000 µW/m²
Extreme Concern
> 1,000 µW/m²

See where common exposures fall on the scale:

A logarithmic scale showing your reading relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and FCC regulatory limits.Your RF Exposure in ContextNo ConcernSlightSevereExtreme0.1101,000FCC Limit →0.01100,000 µW/m²

Showing 736 studies with measured radio frequency (rf) exposure

Pathological changes in the sinoatrial node tissues of rats caused by pulsed microwave exposure.

Liu YQ, Gao YB, Dong J, Yao BW, Zhao L, Peng RY. · 2015

Researchers exposed Wistar rats to 0, 5, 10, and 50 mW/cm² microwave to observe dynamic pathological changes in the sinus nodes. At 10 and 50 mW/cm², acute changes from 1 to 28 days included disorganized sinoatrial node cells, cell swelling, cytoplasmic condensation, nuclear pyknosis, anachromasis, swollen and empty mitochondria, and blurred and focally dissolved myofibrils. Chronic changes from 6 to 12 months at the same intensities included reduced parenchymal cells, increased collagen fibers, and extracellular matrix remodeling of interstitial cells. The researchers concluded that 10 and 50 mW/cm² microwave could cause structural damages in the sinoatrial node and extracellular matrix remodeling in rats.

Indication of cocarcinogenic potential of chronic UMTS-modulated radiofrequency exposure in an ethylnitrosourea mouse model.

Tillmann T et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed mice to UMTS fields at 0, 4.8, and 48 W/m(2) for up to 24 months starting from embryo-fetal exposure, with the 4.8 W/m(2) group also receiving prenatal ethylnitrosourea at 40 mg ENU/kg body weight. The high-level UMTS exposure (48 W/m(2)) showed tumour incidences comparable to sham and cage control groups. Mice given ethylnitrosourea and exposed to 4.8 W/m(2) UMTS had higher lung tumour rates and more lung carcinomas than ethylnitrosourea-only controls. Lung carcinoma multiplicity increased and the number of metastasising lung tumours doubled in the combined exposure group.

[Effect of microwave radiation on primary cultured Sertoli cells.]

Gao XF et al. · 2009

Researchers established a model of primary cultured Sertoli cells in vitro and exposed them to microwave radiation at average power densities of 0, 30, and 100 mW/cm(2) for five minutes. Cell cycle distribution shifted at exposure to 30 mW/cm(2) compared with the control groups, but the changes of rate of apoptosis and death and intracellular Ca2+ concentration showed no difference at 6 h after exposure. At 6 h after exposure to 100 mW/cm(2) microwave, there was a significant increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and rate of apoptosis and death, and the researchers identified the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration as one of the injury mechanisms.

[A aquaporin 4 expression and effects in rat hippocampus after microwave radiation.]

Li X et al. · 2009

Researchers exposed 70 male rats to microwave radiation at average power densities of 0, 10, 30, and 100 mW/cm(2). Rats were sacrificed at 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after exposure. Protein levels of AQP4 increased initially and then recovered at 10 and 30 mW/cm(2), but increased progressively at 100 mW/cm(2) within 14 days. Gene expression of AQP4 increased at 6 hours after 10 mW/cm(2) exposure and returned to baseline, while at 30 and 100 mW/cm(2) it peaked at 7 days and did not return.

Resonance effect of millimeter waves in the power range from 10(-19) to 3 x 10(-3) W/cm2 on Escherichia coli cells at different concentrations.

Belyaev IY, Shcheglov VS, Alipov YD, Polunin VA · 1996

Researchers studied how millimeter waves affected the genome conformational state of E. coli AB1157 cells across a frequency range of 51.64 to 51.85 GHz. The resonance frequency of 51.755 GHz did not shift with power density, though the magnitude of the effect differed significantly and depended on the power density of exposure. Sharp narrowing of the 51.755 GHz resonance at lower power densities was followed by an emergence of new resonance frequencies.

Radio Frequency
Measurement survey

Measurement and analysis of radiofrequency radiations from some mobile phone base stations in Ghana.

Amoako JK, Fletcher JJ, Darko EO. · 2009

Researchers surveyed radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation at public access points near cellular phone base stations operated by the Ghana Telecommunications Company. Measurements were made using a hand-held spectrum analyser to determine electric field levels within the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands. Power densities at public access points ranged from 0.01 to 10 microW m(-2) at 900 MHz, and from 0.01 to 100 microW m(-2) at 1800 MHz. The results were within international guidance levels but were 20 times higher than results generally obtained for such a practice elsewhere.

Impact of one's own mobile phone in stand-by mode on personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure.

Urbinello D, Röösli M. · 2013

Researchers measured uplink exposure from a mobile phone handset during commuting using a randomized cross-over study with three scenarios: a disabled phone, an activated dual-band phone, and a quad-band phone. In the reference scenario, uplink exposure was highest during train rides at 1.19 mW/m2 and lowest during car rides in rural areas at 0.001 mW/m2. In public transports, the impact of one's own mobile phone on personal RF-EMF measurements was not observable due to high background uplink radiation from other people's mobile phones. In a car, uplink exposure with an activated phone was orders of magnitude higher compared with the reference scenario.

Measurements of Radiofrequency Radiation with a Body-Borne Exposimeter in Swedish Schools with Wi-Fi. Front.

Hedendahl LK, Carlberg M, Koppel T, Hardell L. · 2017

Eighteen teachers from seven schools carried a body-borne exposimeter in school to measure radiofrequency radiation exposure. The mean exposure to RF radiation ranged from 1.1 to 66.1 µW/m² across the schools. The highest mean level recorded was 396.6 µW/m² during 5 minutes of a lesson when the teacher let students stream and watch YouTube videos.

Effects of Exposure to GSM mobile phone base station signals on salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and Immunoglobulin A.

Augner C et al. · 2010

Researchers tested whether RF-EMF emitted by mobile phone base stations may affect salivary alpha-amylase, immunoglobulin A, and cortisol levels. Fifty-seven participants were randomly allocated to one of three experimental scenarios, and each participant went through five 50-minute exposure sessions. When exposure shifted from low to high in scenario 3, an increase of cortisol was detected, and IgA concentration was not significantly related to the exposure. The researchers suggested that RF-EMF in considerably lower field densities than ICNIRP guidelines may influence certain psychobiological stress markers.

GSM base stations: Short-term effects on well-being.

Augner C, Florian M, Pauser G, Oberfeld G, Hacker GW. · 2009

Researchers examined the effects of short-term GSM base station radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on psychological symptoms including good mood, alertness, and calmness, as measured by a standardized well-being questionnaire. Fifty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of three different exposure scenarios, each involving five 50-min exposure sessions. Participants in the high and medium exposure scenarios were significantly calmer than those in the low-exposure scenario (P = 0.042), though no significant differences were found for good mood or alertness. The researchers concluded that short-term exposure to GSM base station signals may have an impact on well-being by reducing psychological arousal.

Temporal and spatial variability of personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields

Frei P et al. · 2009

Researchers measured RF-EMF exposure of 166 volunteers from Basel, Switzerland, using personal exposure meters carried for one week. Mean weekly exposure across all RF-EMF sources was 0.13 mW/m2, ranging across individuals from 0.014 to 0.881 mW/m2. Exposure varied considerably between persons and locations but was fairly consistent within persons.

Extensive frequency selective measurements of radiofrequency fields in outdoor environments performed with a novel mobile monitoring system.

Estenberg J, Augustsson T. · 2013

Researchers developed a car-based measuring system to estimate outdoor radiofrequency field exposure across rural, urban, and city areas of Sweden. The median power density was 16 µW/m(2) in rural areas, 270 µW/m(2) in urban areas, and 2400 µW/m(2) in city areas. In urban and city areas, base stations for mobile phones were clearly the dominating sources of exposure.

Subjective symptoms, sleeping problems, and cognitive performance in subjects living near mobile phone base stations.

Hutter HP, Moshammer H, Wallner P, Kundi M. · 2006

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of 365 randomly selected inhabitants living near 10 mobile phone base stations in urban and rural areas. High-frequency electromagnetic field strength was measured in the bedrooms of 336 households, and several cognitive tests, wellbeing, and sleep quality were also assessed. Total HF-EMF exposure was far below recommended levels, with a maximum of 4.1 mW/m2, and average power density was 0.05 mW/m2 in the rural area and 0.02 mW/m2 in the urban area. Some symptoms showed a significant relation to measured power density, headaches most strongly, while sleep quality showed no significant effect.

Extraordinary behavior disorders in cows in proximity to transmission stations.

Loscher W, Kas G, · 1998

Researchers observed behavioral abnormalities, reduced milk yield, and increased health problems in a herd of cows near a TV and cell phone transmitting antenna over two years. Evaluation of possible factors found no explanation other than high-frequency electromagnetic fields. In an experiment, a cow with abnormal behavior was moved 20 km from the antenna and normalized completely within five days, but symptoms returned when the cow was brought back. The researchers suggested the abnormalities might be related to electromagnetic field exposure, with power densities measured at 0.02-7 mW/m2.

Residential characteristics and radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposures from bedroom measurements in Germany.

Breckenkamp J et al. · 2012

Researchers measured RF-EMF exposure in the bedrooms of 1,348 households in Germany using Antennessa(®) EME Spy 120 dosimeters, with 280 measures available for each frequency band per household. Exposure levels were very low and far below the ICNIRP's exposure reference levels. Cordless phones (DECT standard) and wireless LAN/Bluetooth were the major sources, contributing about 82% of total exposure.

The effect of electromagnetic radiation in the mobile phone range on the behaviour of the rat

Daniels WM, Pitout IL, Afullo TJ, Mabandla MV · 2009

Researchers studied the effect of electromagnetic radiation in the mobile phone range on the behaviour of the rat. Behavioural, histological and biochemical tests were performed on exposed and unexposed male and female rats to examine learning and memory, emotional states and corticosterone levels. No significant differences were found in spatial memory or brain morphology between groups, but some exposed animals showed decreased locomotor activity, increased grooming and a tendency of increased basal corticosterone levels. The researchers suggested that EMR exposure may lead to abnormal brain functioning.

Personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure measurements in Swiss adolescents.

Roser K et al. · 2017

Researchers measured personal RF-EMF exposure in 90 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years using a portable ExpoM-RF device across 13 frequency bands from 470 to 3600 MHz for three consecutive days with a time-activity diary. Mobile phones contributed 67.2% and mobile phone base stations contributed 19.8% of total personal RF-EMF measurements averaging 63.2 μW/m² (0.15 V/m). WLAN at school and home accounted for 3.5% of total personal measurements. Environmental sources contributed on average 6.0% to the brain dose and 9.0% to the whole-body dose according to dose calculations.

Outdoor radiofrequency radiation levels in the West Bank-Palestine.

Lahham A, Hammash A. · 2012

Researchers measured radiofrequency power density at 65 locations across the West Bank. The average power density from FM radio was 0.148 μW cm(-2), from TV broadcasting 0.007 μW cm(-2), and from mobile phone base stations 0.089 μW cm(-2). The average total exposure from all sources was 0.37 μW cm(-2). The maximum total exposure at any location was 3.86 μW cm(-2), with an exposure quotient of 0.02, indicating compliance with international guidelines. FM radio contributed about 62% of total exposure, mobile phone base stations 35%, and TV broadcasting 3%.

Classification of personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) for epidemiological research: Evaluation of different exposure assessment methods.

Frei P et al. · 2010

Researchers collected personal exposimeter measurements during one week and diary data from 166 study participants to evaluate different methods of assessing radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure. The mean personal exposure was 0.13 mW/m(2) when measurements during personal phone calls were excluded and 0.15 mW/m(2) when such measurements were included. Self-estimated exposure and geo-coded distance turned out to be poor surrogates for personal exposure.