3,138 Studies Reviewed. 77.4% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.

Electrical Wiring EMF Research

ELF Magnetic FieldsELF Electric Fields

Research on ELF magnetic and electric fields from residential and commercial building wiring.

411
Studies
87%
Showed Bioeffects
2
EMF Types
50/60
Hz

Related Studies (411)

Effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on histopathology and structures of brains of preincubated white Leghorn chicken embryos.

Lahijani MS, Bigdeli MR, Kalantary S. · 2011

Researchers exposed chicken embryos to magnetic fields similar to power lines before incubation and studied their brain development for 14 days. The exposed embryos showed significant brain damage including increased cell death and tissue breakdown compared to unexposed controls. This suggests that magnetic field exposure during critical development periods can harm the developing nervous system.

Static and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields effects on human neuronal-like cells vibration bands in the mid-infrared region.

Calabrò E, Condello S, Magazù S, Ientile, R. · 2011

Italian researchers exposed human brain cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields (like power lines) for three hours and found cellular damage including membrane changes, potential DNA harm, and protein breakdown indicating cell death, providing evidence that power-frequency fields can damage neural cells.

Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on oxidative balance in brain of rats.

Ciejka E, Kleniewska P, Skibska B, Goraca A. · 2011

Polish researchers exposed rats to 7 milliTesla magnetic fields at 40 Hz (similar to some therapeutic magnetic devices) for either 30 or 60 minutes daily over 10 days. They found that 30-minute exposures increased oxidative stress markers in brain tissue, indicating cellular damage from free radicals. However, 60-minute exposures triggered adaptive mechanisms that appeared to protect against this damage, suggesting the brain can develop tolerance to longer magnetic field exposures.

Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on anxiety level and spatial memory of adult rats.

He LH, Shi HM, Liu TT, Xu YC, Ye KP, Wang S. · 2011

Researchers exposed adult rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for either 1 or 4 hours daily over 4 weeks. Rats exposed for 4 hours showed increased anxiety-like behaviors but surprisingly improved spatial learning and long-term memory. This suggests that chronic exposure to power frequency magnetic fields can alter brain function in complex ways, affecting both emotional and cognitive processes.

Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields induces fos-related antigen-immunoreactivity via activation of dopaminergic D1 receptor.

Shin EJ, Nguyen XK, Nguyen TT, Pham DT, Kim HC. · 2011

Researchers exposed mice to magnetic fields from power lines for one hour daily over two weeks. The exposure caused hyperactivity and altered brain chemistry in areas controlling movement and reward, with changes lasting up to a year, suggesting these fields can permanently affect brain function.

Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on anxiety level and spatial memory of adult rats.

He LH, Shi HM, Liu TT, Xu YC, Ye KP, Wang S. · 2011

Researchers exposed adult rats to 50-Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for either 1 or 4 hours daily over 4 weeks. They found that rats exposed for 4 hours showed increased anxiety-like behaviors but also improved spatial learning and long-term memory. This suggests that extremely low frequency magnetic fields can affect both emotional and cognitive brain functions, even at relatively short daily exposure periods.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Lack of effect of 50-Hz magnetic field exposure on the binding affinity of serotonin for the 5-HT 1B receptor subtype.

Masuda H et al. · 2011

Researchers exposed rat brain tissue and human cells to 50-Hz magnetic fields at 1 milliTesla (similar to levels near power lines) to see if this affected serotonin receptors, which are important for brain function and mood. They found no changes in how serotonin bound to these receptors or in the cellular responses that follow. This suggests that magnetic field exposure at this level doesn't interfere with this particular brain signaling pathway.

Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly.

Croft RJ et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed 103 people across three age groups (teens, young adults, and elderly) to 2G and 3G cell phone signals while measuring their brain waves. They found that only young adults (ages 19-40) showed changes in their alpha brain waves when exposed to 2G signals, while teenagers and elderly participants showed no effects from either 2G or 3G exposure. This suggests that brain sensitivity to cell phone radiation varies significantly by age.

Mobile phone emission modulates inter-hemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms in elderly compared to young subjects.

Vecchio F et al. · 2010

Italian researchers measured brain wave patterns in elderly and young adults while exposed to cell phone radiation for 45 minutes. They found that older adults showed significantly increased synchronization between the left and right brain hemispheres in the alpha frequency range (8-12 Hz) during phone exposure, while younger subjects showed minimal changes. This suggests that aging brains may be more vulnerable to electromagnetic field effects from mobile devices.

Effects of acute electromagnetic field exposure and movement restraint on antioxidant system in liver, heart, kidney and plasma of Wistar rats: a preliminary report.

Martínez-Sámano J et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed rats to strong 60 Hz magnetic fields for two hours and found decreased antioxidants in their hearts and blood. These antioxidants normally protect cells from damage, suggesting that even brief exposure to powerful magnetic fields can weaken the body's natural cellular defenses.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect the immune response of monocyte-derived macrophages to pathogens.

Akan Z, Aksu B, Tulunay A, Bilsel S, Inhan-Garip A · 2010

Researchers exposed immune cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) while they fought bacterial infections. The magnetic field exposure boosted the cells' bacteria-fighting ability by increasing nitric oxide production and protective proteins. This suggests some EMF exposures might enhance rather than harm immune function.

Sinusoidal ELF magnetic fields affect acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebellum synaptosomal membranes

Ravera S et al. · 2010

Italian researchers exposed brain cell membranes to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as electrical power lines) and found that a key enzyme called acetylcholinesterase was reduced by 27%. This enzyme is crucial for proper nerve signaling in the brain. The effect occurred at magnetic field levels of 0.74 milliTesla and was completely reversible when the exposure stopped.

Effect of exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field with or without insulin on blood-brain barrier permeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Gulturk S et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed diabetic rats to power line frequency magnetic fields for 30 days. The magnetic fields weakened the blood-brain barrier, which normally protects the brain from harmful substances. Diabetic animals with magnetic field exposure showed the worst barrier damage, potentially allowing toxins easier brain access.

Effect of exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field with or without insulin on blood-brain barrier permeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Gulturk S et al. · 2010

Scientists exposed diabetic rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (from power lines) for three hours daily over 30 days. The magnetic fields increased blood-brain barrier permeability, allowing substances to pass more easily into brain tissue. This matters because a compromised barrier can let toxins reach the brain.

Mobile-phone pulse triggers evoked potentials.

Carrubba S, Frilot C 2nd, Chesson AL Jr, Marino AA. · 2010

Researchers tested whether cell phone signals can trigger measurable brain responses by exposing 20 volunteers to the low-frequency pulse pattern (217 Hz) that cell phones emit. They found that 90% of participants showed detectable brain activity changes (called evoked potentials) in response to these pulses, suggesting the brain can sense and respond to cell phone signals even when people aren't consciously aware of it.

Repeated exposure to low-level extremely low frequency-modulated microwaves affects cortex-hypothalamus interplay in freely moving rats: EEG study.

Vorobyov V, Janać B, Pesić V, Prolić Z. · 2010

Researchers monitored brain activity in rats exposed to low-level microwave radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for 10 minutes daily over five days. They found that repeated exposures disrupted the normal communication patterns between two key brain regions - the cortex (responsible for thinking) and hypothalamus (which controls hormones and basic body functions). The effects got stronger with each day of exposure, suggesting the brain changes accumulate over time.

Effects of prenatal exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field on one-trial passive avoidance learning in 1-day-old chicks.

Sun H, Che Y, Liu X, Zhou D, Miao Y, Ma Y. · 2010

Researchers exposed chick embryos to 50-Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) during development and tested their memory after hatching. Chicks exposed to magnetic fields showed impaired memory formation, but only when they were stressed during testing. This suggests that electromagnetic field exposure during development may make the brain more vulnerable to memory problems under stressful conditions.

Effect of magnetic field on food and water intake and body weight of spinal cord injured rats.

Kumar S, Jain S, Behari J, Avelev VD, Mathur R. · 2010

Researchers exposed rats with spinal cord injuries to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz, 17.9 microT) for 2 hours daily over 8 weeks. The magnetic field exposure restored normal food intake, water consumption, and body weight in the paralyzed rats, all of which had decreased after their spinal cord injuries. This suggests that specific magnetic field frequencies might help support basic physiological functions in spinal cord injury patients.

Influence of low frequency magnetic field on chosen parameters of oxidative stress in rat's muscles.

Ciejka E, Skibska B, Kleniewska P, Goraca A. · 2010

Polish researchers exposed rats to 40 Hz magnetic fields (the type used in medical magnetotherapy) for either 30 or 60 minutes daily over two weeks. They found significant biochemical changes in muscle tissue, including increased sulfur compounds and altered protein levels, indicating the magnetic fields triggered oxidative stress. This suggests that even therapeutic magnetic field devices can cause measurable cellular damage in muscle tissue.

Mobile-phone pulse triggers evoked potentials

Carrubba S, Frilot C 2nd, Chesson AL Jr, Marino AA · 2010

Researchers exposed 20 volunteers to mobile phone pulses (217 Hz frequency) while monitoring brain activity. Advanced analysis detected measurable brain responses in 90% of participants, suggesting mobile phones create detectable changes in brain function that standard testing methods miss.

Exposure to extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis in C57BL/6 mice

Cuccurazzu B et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (power line frequency) for up to seven hours daily over one week. The exposure significantly increased new brain cell growth in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory formation, suggesting certain EMF exposures may enhance rather than harm brain function.

FAQs: Electrical Wiring EMF Research

Of 411 peer-reviewed studies examining electrical wiring electromagnetic radiation, 87% found measurable biological effects. These studies span decades of research conducted by scientists worldwide and include both laboratory experiments and epidemiological studies examining the health effects of electrical wiring radiation exposure.
The BioInitiative Report database includes 411 peer-reviewed studies specifically examining electrical wiring electromagnetic radiation and its potential health effects. These studies have been conducted by researchers worldwide and published in scientific journals. The research examines various biological endpoints including cellular effects, neurological impacts, reproductive health, and other health outcomes.
87% of the 411 studies examining electrical wiring electromagnetic radiation found measurable biological effects. This means that 358 studies documented observable changes when organisms were exposed to electrical wiring EMF. The remaining studies either found no significant effects or had inconclusive results.