6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies 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
3,425
Studies
2
EMF Types

EMF in Outdoor / Infrastructure

  • -## Outdoor / Infrastructure EMF Sources When you step outside your home, you enter an environment where electromagnetic fields come from sources beyond your direct control.
  • -Cell towers broadcasting 24/7, power lines carrying electricity to neighborhoods, smart meters collecting usage data, and increasingly, 5G small cells mounted on streetlights and utility poles.
  • -These infrastructure sources share a common characteristic: they're part of the built environment around us, installed and operated by utilities and telecommunications companies to serve entire communities.

## Outdoor / Infrastructure EMF Sources When you step outside your home, you enter an environment where electromagnetic fields come from sources beyond your direct control. Cell towers broadcasting 24/7, power lines carrying electricity to neighborhoods, smart meters collecting usage data, and increasingly, 5G small cells mounted on streetlights and utility poles. These infrastructure sources share a common characteristic: they're part of the built environment around us, installed and operated by utilities and telecommunications companies to serve entire communities.

Related Studies (3,425)

Effect of short-term 50 Hz electromagnetic field exposure on the behavior of rats.

Balassa T, Szemerszky R, Bárdos G. · 2009

Researchers exposed rats to a 50 Hz electromagnetic field and then tested situational and social anxiety as well as locomotor activity. The tests used included the elevated plus-maze, novel object exploration, social interaction, and territoriality assessments. The researchers found that the field parameters may cause discomfort and may influence behavior, but there was no verified effect on social and territorial behavior.

Effect of continuous exposure to alternating magnetic field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) on serotonin and dopamine receptors activity in rat brain.

Janać B, Tovilović G, Tomić M, Prolić Z, Radenović L. · 2009

Researchers exposed adult Wistar rats continuously to an extremely low frequency magnetic field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) for 1, 3, and 7 days. The study examined serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptors in the prefrontal cortex and dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors in the striatum, considering their involvement in motor behavior regulation. Serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor affinity decreased and density increased in the prefrontal cortex, with the affinity effect being most prominent after 7 days of exposure. Dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors in the striatum showed no significant effect on either affinity or density.

Hypoactivity of Wistar rats exposed to mobile phone on elevated plus maze.

Kumar RS, Sareesh NN, Nayak S, Mailankot M. · 2009

The study aimed to determine whether mobile phone exposure causes changes in rat behavior on the elevated plus maze. Rats were divided into control and exposure groups of six each. Exposed rats were tested at one hour and 24 hours after exposure, while controls were tested with the 24-hour group. The researchers stated that preliminary results indicate mobile phone exposure induced a deficit in open arm exploration on the elevated plus maze.

Spatial memory performance of Wistar rats exposed to mobile phone.

Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Potu BK, Nayak S, Mailankot M · 2009

Researchers exposed male Wistar rats to 50 missed calls per day for four weeks from a GSM mobile phone in vibratory mode. After exposure, the rats were tested for spatial memory using the Morris water maze test. Both exposed and control rats decreased their escape time with training. Phone-exposed rats had about three times higher mean latency to reach the target quadrant and spent about two times less time in it than controls.

Radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM (0.9/1.8GHz) mobile phones induces oxidative stress and reduces sperm motility in rats.

Mailankot M et al. · 2009

Researchers exposed male albino Wistar rats to RF-EMR from an active GSM mobile phone for one hour daily over 28 days. Exposed rats had significantly reduced sperm motility but no change in total sperm count. RF-EMR exposure also increased lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione levels in the testis and epididymis. Facial temperature did not change significantly during exposure.

Results of a long-term low-level microwave exposure of rats.

Adang D, Remacle C, Vorst AV. · 2009

Researchers exposed four-month-old Wistar albino rats to two different microwave frequencies and exposure modes for 2 hours a day, seven days a week, over 21 months. They measured leucocytes, erythrocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and mortality rate. After three and eight months, monocytes differed by about 20% in the 970-MHz continuous wave group; after 14 and 18 months, white blood cells increased about 15% and neutrophils about 25%; lymphocytes fell about 15% at 18 months. Mortality in exposed groups increased after 21 months at age 25 months and reached almost twice the sham-exposed value by age 28 months.

Effect of electromagnetic field induced by radio frequency waves at 900 to 1800 MHz on bone mineral density of iliac bone wings.

Atay T et al. · 2009

Researchers investigated the effects of electromagnetic waves from cellular phones operating at 900 to 1800 MHz on bone mineral density of the human iliac bone wings in 150 male volunteers. Participants were divided into two groups based on the iliac side exposed to electromagnetic waves (group 1) and the unexposed side (group 2). The mean daily phone carriage duration was 14.7 hours and the mean duration of phone use was 6.2 years. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements showed slightly lower values on the exposed side but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), and values were not as low as in osteopenia or osteoporosis.

Effects of intrauterine and extrauterine exposure to GSM-like radiofrequency on distortion product otoacoustic emissions in infant male rabbits.

Budak GG, Muluk NB, Budak B, Oztürk GG, Apan A, Seyhan N. · 2009

Researchers studied thirty-six infant male New Zealand rabbits divided into four groups with different exposure regimens. Group 2 received extrauterine exposure for 15 minutes daily over 14 days, Group 3 received intrauterine exposure for 15 minutes daily over 7 days, and Group 4 received both exposures. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured across frequencies from 1.0 to 8.0 kHz. Extrauterine exposure alone decreased emission amplitudes at 4.0 and 6.0 kHz compared with controls. Combined intrauterine and extrauterine exposure increased amplitudes at 1.5, 3.0, and 4.0 kHz relative to controls and the extrauterine group.

Spatial memory performance of Wistar rats exposed to mobile phone.

Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Potu BK, Nayak S, Mailankot M. · 2009

Researchers exposed rats to mobile phone signals for 4 weeks (50 missed calls daily) and then tested their ability to navigate a water maze to find a hidden platform. The phone-exposed rats took three times longer to find the target area and spent half as much time in the correct location compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that mobile phone radiation may impair spatial memory and learning abilities.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Effects of head-only exposure of rats to GSM-900 on blood-brain barrier permeability and neuronal degeneration

de Gannes FP et al. · 2009

In the study, 16 Fischer 344 rats (14 weeks old) were exposed head-only to the GSM-900 signal for 2 h at various brain-averaged SARs (0, 0.14 and 2.0 W/kg) or were used as cage or positive controls. Albumin leakage and neuron degeneration were evaluated 14 and 50 days after exposure. No statistically significant albumin leakage was observed. Neuronal degeneration assessed using cresyl violet or Fluoro-Jade B was not significantly different among the tested groups. No apoptotic neurons were found 14 days after the last exposure using the TUNEL method.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Heat shock protein induction in fetal mouse brain as a measure of stress after whole of gestation exposure to mobile telephony radiofrequency fields

Finnie JW, Chidlow G, Blumbergs PC, Manavis J, Cai Z · 2009

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to 900 MHz radiofrequency fields at 4 W/kg for 60 minutes daily throughout gestation. Fetal brains were examined for heat shock proteins HSP25, HSP32, and HSP70. No induction of HSP32 or HSP70 was found in any brains, and HSP25 expression was similar in exposed and control groups. The study concluded that whole-gestation exposure did not produce a stress response detectable by HSPs.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Effects of UMTS cellular phones on human hearing: results of the European project EMFnEAR

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.

Oxidative StressNo Effects Found

Antioxidants alleviate electric field-induced effects on lung tissue based on assays of heme oxygenase-1, protein carbonyl content, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and hydroxyproline.

Güler G, Türközer Z, Ozgur E, Seyhan N. · 2009

Researchers exposed subjects to a 50 Hz, 12 kV/m electric field for 7 days at 8 hours per day and measured pulmonary levels of heme oxygenase-1, protein carbonyl content, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and hydroxyproline. Protein carbonyl content increased significantly with electric field exposure compared to controls, while the other four markers showed no significant change. Adding the antioxidants NAC or EGCG during exposure did not produce significant changes in any of the measured parameters compared to electric field exposure alone.

Immune SystemNo Effects Found

A confirmation study of Russian and Ukrainian data on effects of 2450 MHz microwave exposure on immunological processes and teratology in rats.

de Gannes FP et al. · 2009

The study aimed to confirm earlier Russian and Ukrainian data on 2450 MHz microwave effects on immunological processes and teratology in rats. All results using ELISA and classic teratology end points were negative. The researchers concluded that exposure at 2450 MHz, CW, 7h/day for 30 days at 0.16 W/kg whole-body SAR had no influence on several immune and degenerative parameters or prenatal development.

Cancer & Tumors
Not an original health-effects study

Health effects of magnetic fields generated from power lines: new clues for an old puzzle

Unknown authors · 2009

A research team from ISS searched for a suitable location to implement an epidemiological study aimed at a wide range of outcomes for which a priori hypotheses could be formulated. The project's recently published findings showed an increase in primary and secondary malignant neoplasms, ischaemic disease, and haematological diseases. The authors recommended that future studies address the most exposed sectors of the population, consider different outcomes, and follow protocols that enable pooled analyses.

Whole Body / General
Not an original health-effects study
208 citations

Analysis of RF exposure in the head tissues of children and adults

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers developed child head models based on magnetic resonance imaging and analyzed maximum SAR over 10 g in seven child and six adult heterogeneous head models. They also assessed SAR over 1 g in specific tissues for both child and adult head models. Simulations showed that maximum SAR over 10 g differed little between adults and children relative to variability, but maximum SAR in 1 g of peripheral brain tissue was about two times higher in child models aged 5–8 years than in adult models, with no difference for older children.

Oxidative Stress165 citations

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure of microwave radiation from mobile phones in rat brain

Sokolovic D et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed Wistar rats to microwave radiation from a mobile test phone for 20, 40, and 60 days to evaluate oxidative stress in brain tissue and whether melatonin could reduce it. Exposure led to a significant increase in malondialdehyde and carbonyl group concentrations in brain tissue, along with decreased catalase activity and increased xanthine oxidase activity. Melatonin treatment significantly prevented the rise in MDA content and xanthine oxidase activity after 40 days of exposure, but was unable to prevent the decrease in catalase activity or the increase in carbonyl group content.

Cellular Effects156 citations

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field enhances human keratinocyte cell growth and decreases proinflammatory chemokine production

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT to 1 mT, 50 Hz ELF-EMF for different lengths of time and compared them with unexposed control cells. Cell growth and viability were evaluated by cell count and trypan blue exclusion. Significantly increased growth rates were observed after 48 hours of EMF exposure compared with control cells, while no difference in cell viabilities was detected. Gene expression and release of RANTES, MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 were significantly reduced after 72 hours of exposure. NF-kappaB levels became almost undetectable after only 1 hour of EMF exposure and were inversely correlated with cell density.

Cognitive impairment in rats after long-term exposure to GSM-900 mobile phone radiation.

Nittby H et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to GSM-900 mobile phone radiation for 2 hours each week for 55 weeks at SAR levels of 0.6 and 60 mW/kg, then compared them to sham-exposed controls. GSM-exposed rats had impaired memory for objects and their temporal order of presentation compared to sham-exposed controls (P = 0.02). Detecting the place in which an object was presented was not affected by GSM exposure, and no difference in exploratory behaviour was seen in the open-field test.

Blood-brain barrier permeability and nerve cell damage in rat brain 14 and 28 days after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones

Eberhardt JL, Persson BR, Brun AE, Salford LG, Malmgren LO · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to GSM microwave signals in the 900 MHz band and measured blood-brain barrier permeability and signs of neuronal damage after recovery periods of 14 or 28 days. Non-anaesthetized rats were sham exposed or exposed to microwaves for 2 hours at whole-body specific absorption rates of 0.12, 1.2, 12, or 120 mW/kg. Albumin leakage and its uptake into neurons was enhanced after 14 days but not after the 28-day recovery period, while the occurrence of dark neurons was enhanced after 28 days.

Blood-brain barrier permeability and nerve cell damage in rat brain 14 and 28 days after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones.

Eberhardt JL, Persson BR, Brun AE, Salford LG, Malmgren LO. · 2008

Swedish researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz for 2 hours and examined their brains 14 and 28 days later. They found that the radiation compromised the blood-brain barrier (the protective shield around the brain) and caused nerve cell damage. The blood-brain barrier leaked proteins into brain tissue within 14 days, while actual nerve cell death appeared after 28 days.

Cellular Effects115 citations

Bacterial response to the exposure of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2008

Researchers exposed Escherichia coli ATCC 700926 to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mT and compared them with sham-exposed controls. Exposed and control samples had similar total and culturable counts. Exposed samples showed increased cell viability after 24 hours of re-incubation outside the solenoid. Exposure for 20–120 minutes caused significant morphological changes including coccoid cells and atypical lengthened forms. DNA fingerprinting showed no changes, while RNA-AFLP analysis revealed some differences at each field intensity.

FAQs: EMF in Outdoor / Infrastructure

## Outdoor / Infrastructure EMF Sources When you step outside your home, you enter an environment where electromagnetic fields come from sources beyond your direct control. Cell towers broadcasting 24/7, power lines carrying electricity to neighborhoods, smart meters collecting usage data, and increasingly, 5G small cells mounted on streetlights and utility poles.
There are 3,425 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 (2,503 studies), Power Lines (922 studies), Smart Meters (1,753 studies). The research includes both laboratory experiments and epidemiological studies from scientists worldwide.
5G / Cell Towers has the most research with 2,503 studies, followed by Smart Meters (1,753) and Power Lines (922). This research examines various biological endpoints including cellular effects, neurological impacts, and other health outcomes from EMF exposure in outdoor / infrastructure settings.