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)

Reproductive HealthNo Effects Found

No adverse effects detected for simultaneous whole-body exposure to multiple-frequency radiofrequency electromagnetic fields for rats in the intrauterine and pre- and post-weaning periods.

Shirai T et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed pregnant rats and their offspring to eight different wireless communication frequencies (from cell phones to WiFi) for 20 hours daily throughout pregnancy and early development. They found no adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, offspring development, memory function, or reproductive ability across two generations of rats. This study suggests that simultaneous exposure to multiple wireless frequencies at communication signal levels may not harm reproductive health or early development.

Anxiety-like behavioural effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field in rats.

Djordjevic NZ, Paunović MG, Peulić AS · 2017

Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the type from power lines and household wiring) for one week and found the animals developed anxiety-like behaviors. Brain analysis revealed increased oxidative stress and nitric oxide in the hypothalamus, the brain region that regulates emotions and stress responses. This suggests that even short-term exposure to extremely low frequency EMFs can alter brain chemistry in ways that affect mood and behavior.

Biochemical and pathological changes in the male rat kidney and bladder following exposure to continuous 900-MHz electromagnetic field on postnatal days 22-59.

Türedi S, Kerimoğlu G, Mercantepe T, Odacı E. · 2017

Turkish researchers exposed young male rats to cell phone frequency radiation (900 MHz) for one hour daily during their developmental period and examined kidney and bladder tissues. They found significant increases in oxidative stress markers and observed cellular damage including tissue degeneration and increased cell death in both organs. The study demonstrates that even brief daily exposure to radiofrequency radiation during development can cause measurable harm to vital organs.

Anxiety-like behavioural effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field in rats.

Djordjevic NZ, Paunović MG, Peulić AS. · 2017

Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for seven days and found it caused anxiety-like behaviors. The EMF exposure increased harmful oxidative stress compounds in the brain region that controls stress responses. This suggests that common power line frequencies may directly affect brain chemistry and emotional well-being.

Mitochondrial DNA damage and oxidative damage in HL-60 cells exposed to 900MHz radiofrequency fields.

Sun Y, Zong L, Gao Z, Zhu S, Tong J, Cao Y · 2017

Researchers exposed human blood cells to 900MHz radiofrequency radiation (the same frequency used in many cell phones) for 4 hours daily over 5 days. The radiation caused significant damage to mitochondrial DNA (the genetic material in cellular powerhouses) and increased harmful free radicals, while reducing the cells' ability to produce energy. Importantly, treating the cells with melatonin, a natural antioxidant, prevented this damage.

Cellular detection of 50 Hz magnetic fields and weak blue light: effects on superoxide levels and genotoxicity.

Höytö A, Herrala M, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. · 2017

Finnish researchers exposed human brain cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines for 24 hours. The fields increased harmful superoxide molecules in cells and enhanced DNA damage when combined with blue light, showing magnetic fields can affect cells independently of light exposure.

Exposure to a specific time-varying electromagnetic field inhibits cell proliferation via cAMP and ERK signaling in cancer cells.

Buckner CA, Buckner AL, Koren SA, Persinger MA, Lafrenie RM. · 2017

Researchers exposed multiple types of cancer cells to a specific low-frequency electromagnetic field pattern (25-6 Hz) for one hour daily and found it significantly slowed cancer cell growth without affecting healthy cells. The EMF exposure worked by altering specific cellular signaling pathways (cAMP and ERK) that control cell division. This suggests certain EMF patterns might have therapeutic potential for cancer treatment by selectively targeting malignant cells.

Mobile phone (1800MHz) radiation impairs female reproduction in mice, Mus musculus, through stress induced inhibition of ovarian and uterine activity.

Shahin S, Singh SP, Chaturvedi CM · 2017

Researchers exposed female mice to 1800MHz mobile phone radiation in different modes (standby, dialing, receiving) and found significant damage to reproductive organs and hormone systems. The radiation caused oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) and reduced the number of healthy egg follicles, while disrupting key reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This suggests that mobile phone radiation at typical cellular frequencies may interfere with female fertility through stress-related mechanisms.

Lasting hepatotoxic effects of prenatal mobile phone exposure.

Yilmaz A et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed pregnant rats to mobile phone radiation (900 MHz) for 20 days and examined their offspring's livers 60 days after birth. The exposed animals showed significant liver damage including increased oxidative stress, elevated liver enzymes indicating injury, and visible tissue damage under the microscope. This study demonstrates that EMF exposure during pregnancy can cause lasting liver problems in offspring that persist into adulthood.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

An assessment of the autonomic nervous system in the electrohypersensitive population: a heart rate variability and skin conductance study.

Andrianome S et al. · 2017

French researchers studied whether people who report electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) have different nervous system responses compared to healthy controls, and whether exposure to common wireless signals affects their autonomic nervous system. They measured heart rate variability and skin conductance in 30 EHS individuals and 25 controls, then exposed 10 EHS participants to GSM, DECT, and Wi-Fi signals at environmental levels (1 V/m). The study found no significant differences in nervous system responses between EHS and control groups, and no measurable effects from the wireless exposures.

Extremely low frequency magnetic field protects injured spinal cord from the microglia- and iron-induced tissue damage.

Dey S, Bose S, Kumar S, Rathore R, Mathur R, Jain S. · 2017

Researchers exposed rats with severed spinal cords to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz at 17.96 µT) for 2 hours daily over 8 weeks. The magnetic field treatment significantly improved locomotion and reduced inflammation, tissue damage, and iron buildup at the injury site compared to untreated injured rats. This suggests that certain EMF exposures might actually help the nervous system heal from traumatic injuries.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

RF-EMF exposure at 1800 MHz did not elicit DNA damage or abnormal cellular behaviors in different neurogenic cells.

Su L, Wei X, Xu Z, Chen G · 2017

Researchers exposed three types of brain cells to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) at high power levels for up to 24 hours to see if it would damage DNA or disrupt normal cell behavior. They found no evidence of DNA breaks, changes in cell growth, or other harmful effects even at radiation levels twice as high as current safety limits. The study suggests that this frequency of radiofrequency radiation may not directly damage brain cells in laboratory conditions.

Influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on Ca2+ signaling and double messenger system in mice hippocampus and reversal function of procyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod.

Zhang H et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed mice to power line frequency magnetic fields for 4 hours daily over 28 days. The exposure disrupted brain chemistry in the hippocampus, reducing proteins essential for memory and learning while increasing harmful cellular changes that could affect cognitive function.

The expression of pluripotency and neuronal differentiation markers under the influence of electromagnetic field and nitric oxide.

Haghighat N, Abdolmaleki P, Parnian J, Behmanesh M. · 2017

Researchers exposed stem cells from rat bone marrow to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) combined with nitric oxide, a natural cellular messenger. They found that EMF exposure combined with high levels of nitric oxide forced stem cells to transform into nerve cells, while low nitric oxide levels helped protect the cells' original stem cell properties. This suggests that EMF exposure can influence how our cells develop and differentiate, potentially affecting tissue repair and regeneration.

Long-term exposure to a continuous 900 MHz electromagnetic field disrupts cerebellar morphology in young adult male rats.

Aslan A, İkinci A, Baş O, Sönmez OF, Kaya H, Odacı E. · 2017

Researchers exposed young rats to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for one hour daily during adolescence and examined their brain tissue. They found significant damage to the cerebellum, including fewer Purkinje cells (critical neurons for movement and coordination) and abnormal cell arrangement in exposed animals compared to unexposed controls. This suggests that even brief daily EMF exposure during brain development may cause lasting neurological damage.

Effects of 15 Hz square wave magnetic fields on the voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels in prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons.

Zheng Y, Dou JR, Gao Y, Dong L, Li G. · 2017

Researchers exposed brain neurons from mice to a 15 Hz magnetic field (the type found around power lines) and measured how it affected the channels that allow electrical signals to flow through nerve cells. The magnetic field disrupted these crucial channels, reducing their activity and changing how they function. This suggests that everyday magnetic field exposure could interfere with normal brain cell communication.

Effects of acute and chronic exposure to both 900 MHz and 2100 MHz electromagnetic radiation on glutamate receptor signaling pathway.

Gökçek-Saraç Ç et al. · 2017

Turkish researchers exposed rats to cell phone frequencies (900 MHz and 2100 MHz) for either one week or ten weeks and measured changes in brain enzymes involved in memory and learning. They found that longer exposure caused greater disruption to these critical brain pathways, and that the higher frequency (2100 MHz, used in 3G networks) caused more damage than the lower frequency (900 MHz, used in 2G networks).

Effects of acute and chronic exposure to both 900 MHz and 2100 MHz electromagnetic radiation on glutamate receptor signaling pathway.

Gökçek-Saraç Ç et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz and 2100 MHz frequencies for either 1 week or 10 weeks, then examined changes in brain enzymes involved in memory and learning. They found that longer exposure (10 weeks) caused more significant changes than shorter exposure (1 week), and that 2100 MHz radiation (used by 3G networks) had stronger effects than 900 MHz radiation (used by 2G networks). This suggests that both the duration of exposure and the specific frequency matter when it comes to how wireless radiation affects the brain.

Radiofrequency radiations induced genotoxic and carcinogenic effects on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) root tip cells.

Qureshi ST, Memon SA, Abassi AR, Sial MA, Bughio FA. · 2017

Pakistani researchers exposed chickpea seeds to radiation from cell phones (900 MHz) and laptops (3.31 GHz) for 24 and 48 hours to study DNA damage. They found that both devices caused genetic damage to plant cells, with laptop radiation being more harmful than cell phone radiation. The study suggests these everyday devices could potentially cause DNA damage and cancer-like changes in living tissue.

Effects of GSM and UMTS mobile telephony signals on neuron degeneration and blood-brain barrier permeation in the rat brain.

Poulletier de Gannes F et al. · 2017

French researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (GSM and UMTS signals) for 4 weeks and found that high exposure levels caused the blood-brain barrier to leak 50 days after exposure ended. The blood-brain barrier normally protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood, but this protective shield became compromised at radiation levels equivalent to what humans might experience with very high cell phone use.

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.