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

Outdoor EMF Infrastructure Research

RFELF Magnetic

Research on environmental EMF sources - cell towers, 5G small cells, power lines, and smart meters.

3
Sources
2,829
Studies
2
EMF Types

Related Studies (1,815)

The antioxidant effect of Green Tea Mega EGCG against electromagnetic radiation-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus and striatum of rats.

Ahmed NA, Radwan NM, Aboul Ezz HS, Salama NA. · 2017

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone-level radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz) for 2-3 months and found it caused oxidative stress damage in brain regions critical for memory and movement. However, when rats were given green tea extract (EGCG) before or during radiation exposure, it significantly protected against this brain damage. The study suggests that antioxidants may help shield the brain from wireless radiation effects.

Rats exposed to 2.45GHz of non-ionizing radiation exhibit behavioral changes with increased brain expression of apoptotic caspase 3.

Varghese R, Majumdar A, Kumar G, Shukla A. · 2017

Researchers exposed female rats to WiFi-frequency radiation (2.45GHz) for 4 hours daily over 45 days and found significant brain changes including memory problems, increased anxiety, and markers of brain cell death. The radiation also damaged the brain's natural antioxidant defenses and altered the structure of neurons that carry electrical signals. This study suggests that prolonged exposure to WiFi radiation at the frequency used by most wireless devices may harm brain function and structure.

Evaluation of the Effect of Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted From Wi-Fi Router and Mobile Phone Simulator on the Antibacterial Susceptibility of Pathogenic Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli.

Taheri M et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed two types of bacteria (Listeria and E. coli) to radiofrequency radiation from cell phones (900 MHz) and Wi-Fi routers (2.4 GHz) to see if it affected how well antibiotics worked against them. They found that RF exposure made these disease-causing bacteria more resistant to antibiotics, meaning the medications became less effective at killing them. This could have serious implications for treating infections, as it suggests our wireless devices might be contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on novel object associative recognition memory in mice.

Wang K et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed mice to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for 30 minutes and found it actually improved their memory performance on recognition tasks. The radiation changed brain cell structure and electrical activity in memory-related brain regions. However, the exposure level used was much higher than what people typically experience from everyday devices.

Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in swiss albino mice.

Pandey N, Giri S, Das S, Upadhaya P. · 2017

Researchers exposed male mice to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 4-8 hours daily over 35 days and found significant damage to sperm-producing cells in the testes. The radiation disrupted the normal development of sperm cells, caused DNA damage, and reduced sperm counts by interfering with cellular energy production. While the effects were reversible after stopping exposure, the study demonstrates how RF radiation can impair male fertility at the cellular level.

Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in swiss albino mice.

Pandey N, Giri S, Das S, Upadhaya P · 2017

Researchers exposed male mice to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (the frequency used by many cell phones) for 4-8 hours daily over 35 days. The radiation caused DNA damage in sperm-producing cells and disrupted the normal development of sperm, leading to significantly lower sperm counts. While these effects were reversible after stopping exposure, the study demonstrates that cell phone radiation can interfere with male fertility at the cellular level.

Postnatal development and behavior effects of in-utero exposure of rats to radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional WiFi devices.

Othman H et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed pregnant rats to WiFi signals (2.45GHz) for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy and tracked their offspring's brain development. The study found that prenatal WiFi exposure delayed early neurodevelopment in the first 17 days after birth and caused oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) in the brain at 28 days old. This suggests that WiFi exposure during pregnancy may affect early brain development in offspring.

Review: Weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phone radiation on plants.

Halgamuge MN. · 2017

Researchers analyzed 45 studies examining how radiofrequency radiation from mobile phones affects plants, looking at 169 experiments across 29 plant species. They found that nearly 90% of studies showed biological effects in plants exposed to cell phone frequencies, with certain crops like corn, tomatoes, and peas appearing especially sensitive. This suggests that the wireless radiation we consider safe may be causing measurable biological changes in living organisms.

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

Swedish researchers had teachers wear radiation monitors in Wi-Fi equipped schools. They found radiofrequency exposure ranged from 1.1 to 66.1 µW/m² during normal activities, but spiked to 396.6 µW/m² when students streamed YouTube videos, showing how device usage dramatically increases classroom radiation levels.

Proteomic analysis of continuous 900-MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure in testicular tissue: a rat model of human cell phone exposure.

Sepehrimanesh M, Kazemipour N, Saeb M, Nazifi S, Davis DL · 2017

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for up to 4 hours daily over 30 days and analyzed protein changes in testicular tissue. They found that radiation exposure increased levels of two specific proteins by 70% - proteins that are linked to cellular stress and cancer risk. This matters because many men carry phones in their pants pockets, creating similar exposure patterns to reproductive organs.

Spatial memory recovery in Alzheimer's rat model by electromagnetic field exposure.

Akbarnejad Z et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed rats with Alzheimer's-like brain damage to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for 14 days and tested their memory using a water maze. The electromagnetic field exposure significantly improved the rats' learning and memory abilities, even reversing some of the cognitive damage. This suggests that certain electromagnetic frequencies might have therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative conditions.

The α-helix alignment of proteins in water solution toward a high-frequency electromagnetic field: A FTIR spectroscopy study.

Calabrò E, Magazù S. · 2017

Italian researchers exposed proteins (including hemoglobin and albumin) to mobile phone radiation at 1750 MHz for 4 hours and measured changes in their molecular structure. They found that the proteins' alpha-helix structures physically aligned themselves with the electromagnetic field, causing measurable changes in their chemical bonds. This demonstrates that cell phone-level radiation can directly alter the shape and orientation of essential biological molecules.

Effects of prenatal exposure to WIFI signal (2.45GHz) on postnatal development and behavior in rat: Influence of maternal restraint.

Othman H, Ammari M, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H · 2017

Researchers exposed pregnant rats to 2.45GHz WiFi signals (the same frequency used by most home routers) for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy, then tested their offspring for developmental and behavioral changes. They found that prenatal WiFi exposure altered physical development and caused anxiety, motor problems, and learning difficulties in the young rats, with effects being more severe when combined with maternal stress. The study also revealed oxidative stress (cellular damage) in the brains of exposed offspring.

The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves in unimodal and multimodal object recognition tasks in male rats

Hassanshahi A et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed male rats to Wi-Fi radiation (2.4 GHz) for 12 hours daily over 30 days and tested their ability to recognize and remember objects using different senses. The Wi-Fi-exposed rats showed significant impairment in object recognition tasks, failing to distinguish between familiar and new objects whether using touch, vision, or combined senses. This suggests that chronic Wi-Fi exposure may interfere with how the brain processes and integrates sensory information.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure enhances inflammatory response and inhibits effect of antioxidant in RAW 264.7 cells.

Kim SJ et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed immune cells called macrophages to 60 Hz magnetic fields at 0.8 mT (similar to power line frequencies) and found the fields significantly increased inflammatory responses. The EMF exposure boosted production of inflammatory molecules like nitric oxide and cytokines, while also reducing the effectiveness of antioxidants that normally help control inflammation. This suggests that everyday electromagnetic field exposure might make our immune cells more prone to chronic inflammation.

Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

Mokarram P, Sheikhi M, Mortazavi SMJ, Saeb S, Shokrpour N · 2017

Researchers exposed male rats to 900 MHz GSM cell phone radiation for 4 hours and found it altered DNA methylation patterns in colon cells, specifically affecting the estrogen receptor gene. DNA methylation is a process that controls gene activity and plays a role in cancer development. This suggests that cell phone radiation may cause epigenetic changes that could potentially increase colorectal cancer risk.

Exposure to mobile phone (900-1800 MHz) during pregnancy: tissue oxidative stress after childbirth.

Bahreyni Toossi MH et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to cell phone radiation (900-1800 MHz) for 2 hours daily throughout pregnancy, then examined tissue damage in both mothers and their newborns after birth. They found significant oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) in the heart, liver, kidney, brain areas of both mothers and offspring. This suggests that prenatal cell phone exposure may cause lasting tissue damage that affects both the pregnant mother and developing baby.

Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on oxidative stress in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Medina-Fernandez FJ et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed rats with multiple sclerosis-like symptoms to magnetic field stimulation (0.7 mT at 60 Hz) for 2 hours daily over 3 weeks. The magnetic field treatment significantly reduced brain and spinal cord damage, improved motor symptoms, and decreased harmful oxidative stress while boosting protective antioxidant systems. This suggests that certain types of electromagnetic field exposure may actually have therapeutic benefits for neurological conditions.

Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on oxidative stress in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Medina-Fernandez FJ et al. · 2017

Researchers used magnetic field therapy (similar to medical TMS treatment) on rats with an artificially induced multiple sclerosis-like condition. The 60 Hz magnetic fields at 0.7 milliTesla significantly reduced brain damage, improved motor symptoms, and decreased harmful oxidative stress. This suggests that controlled magnetic field exposure might have therapeutic potential for neurological conditions involving brain inflammation.

Exposure to 2100 MHz electromagnetic field radiations induces reactive oxygen species generation in Allium cepa roots.

Chandel S, Kaur S, Singh HP, Batish DR, Kohli RK. · 2017

Researchers exposed onion roots to 2100 MHz cell phone radiation for 1-4 hours and measured cellular damage markers. The exposure triggered increased production of harmful reactive oxygen species (unstable molecules that damage cells) and forced the plants to ramp up their antioxidant defenses. This demonstrates that cell phone frequencies can disrupt normal cellular processes even in plant tissue.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Evaluation of bax, bcl-2, p21 and p53 genes expression variations on cerebellum of BALB/c mice before and after birth under mobile phone radiation exposure.

Ghatei N et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed pregnant mice and their offspring to cell phone radiation at 900 and 1800 MHz frequencies, then examined how this affected genes related to cell death and DNA repair in the brain's cerebellum. They found that the radiation did not trigger cell death pathways but did alter expression of genes involved in DNA repair. The authors concluded that while cell phone radiation may cause some cellular changes, the brain appears capable of repairing any damage through normal cellular mechanisms.

Ten gigahertz microwave radiation impairs spatial memory, enzymes activity, and histopathology of developing mice brain.

Sharma A, Kesari KK, Saxena VK, Sisodia R. · 2017

Researchers exposed young mice to 10 GHz microwave radiation (similar to some WiFi and cellular frequencies) for 2 hours daily over 15 days and found significant damage to developing brains. The exposed mice showed impaired spatial memory, disrupted brain chemistry, and visible tissue damage in key brain regions including the hippocampus. These effects persisted weeks after exposure ended, suggesting the developing brain is particularly vulnerable to microwave radiation.

Ten gigahertz microwave radiation impairs spatial memory, enzymes activity, and histopathology of developing mice brain.

Sharma A, Kesari KK, Saxena VK, Sisodia R · 2017

Researchers exposed young mice to 10 GHz microwave radiation (similar to frequencies used in radar and some wireless communications) for 2 hours daily over 15 days. The exposed mice showed impaired spatial memory, brain tissue damage, and disrupted brain chemistry both immediately after exposure and weeks later. This suggests that developing brains may be particularly vulnerable to microwave radiation effects that persist even after exposure ends.

FAQs: EMF in Outdoor / Infrastructure

The outdoor / infrastructure environment contains several common sources of electromagnetic field exposure including 5g / cell towers, power lines, smart meters. Together, these 3 sources account for 2,829 peer-reviewed studies in the BioInitiative Report database examining their potential health effects.
There are 2,829 peer-reviewed studies in our database examining EMF sources commonly found in outdoor / infrastructure environments. These studies cover 3 different EMF sources: 5G / Cell Towers (1,404 studies), Power Lines (411 studies), Smart Meters (1,014 studies). The research includes both laboratory experiments and epidemiological studies from scientists worldwide.
5G / Cell Towers has the most research with 1,404 studies, followed by Smart Meters (1,014) and Power Lines (411). This research examines various biological endpoints including cellular effects, neurological impacts, and other health outcomes from EMF exposure in outdoor / infrastructure settings.