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

Personal Device EMF Research

RFELF Magnetic

Research on EMF from devices you carry or wear daily - phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and laptops.

3
Sources
3,372
Studies
2
EMF Types

Related Studies (1,772)

The effect of mobile phone on the number of Purkinje cells: A stereological study.

Rağbetlı MC et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to mobile phone radiation at levels similar to what humans experience (0.95 W/kg SAR) and found a significant decrease in Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum of offspring. Purkinje cells are critical neurons that control movement, balance, and coordination. This study suggests that prenatal exposure to mobile phone radiation may affect brain development in areas responsible for motor function.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

1950 MHz IMT-2000 field does not activate microglial cells in vitro.

Hirose H et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed brain immune cells called microglia to cell phone radiation at levels up to 2.0 W/kg for two hours to see if it would activate an inflammatory response. They found no signs of activation or increased production of inflammatory molecules compared to unexposed cells. This suggests that moderate levels of cell phone radiation don't trigger brain inflammation in laboratory conditions.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

1950 MHz IMT-2000 field does not activate microglial cells in vitro.

Hirose H et al. · 2010

Japanese researchers exposed rat brain immune cells called microglia to 1950 MHz cell phone radiation for 2 hours at various power levels, then monitored the cells for signs of activation or inflammation. They found no significant differences between exposed and unexposed cells in terms of immune markers or inflammatory proteins. This suggests that short-term exposure to 3G cell phone frequencies at typical power levels does not trigger immune responses in brain cells.

Effects of mobile phone use on brain tissue from the rat and a possible protective role of vitamin C - a preliminary study.

Imge EB, Kiliçoğlu B, Devrim E, Cetin R, Durak I · 2010

Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for four weeks and measured changes in brain tissue chemistry. They found that phone radiation reduced the activity of key protective enzymes in the brain, but vitamin C supplementation helped restore these protective mechanisms. This suggests that cell phone radiation may stress brain cells through oxidative damage, but antioxidants might offer some protection.

Effects of mobile phone use on brain tissue from the rat and a possible protective role of vitamin C - a preliminary study.

Imge EB, Kiliçoğlu B, Devrim E, Cetin R, Durak I. · 2010

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation and found it disrupted protective brain enzymes. When rats also received vitamin C, the antioxidant helped restore some enzyme function. This suggests phone radiation creates harmful oxidative stress in brain tissue that antioxidants might help counteract.

CardiovascularNo Effects Found

Analysis of proteome response to the mobile phone radiation in two types of human primary endothelial cells

Nylund R, Kuster N, Leszczynski D · 2010

Researchers exposed two types of human blood vessel cells to 1800 MHz cell phone radiation at levels similar to phone use (SAR 2.0 W/kg) for one hour and examined whether this changed protein production in the cells. They found no statistically significant changes in protein expression compared to unexposed cells. This suggests that short-term cell phone radiation exposure may not immediately alter how these particular blood vessel cells function at the molecular level.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

No effects of mobile phone use on cortical auditory change-detection in children: an ERP study

Kwon MS et al. · 2010

Researchers tested whether cell phone radiation affects children's ability to process sounds by measuring brain activity in 17 children aged 11-12 while they were exposed to 902 MHz signals from a GSM phone. The study found no significant changes in the brain's auditory processing or sound memory functions during short exposures (12 minutes total). However, the researchers noted their study could only detect large effects, meaning smaller impacts might have gone unnoticed.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

No effects of mobile phone use on cortical auditory change-detection in children: An ERP study.

Kwon MS et al. · 2010

Researchers tested whether cell phone radiation affects children's brain processing of sounds by placing GSM phones emitting 902 MHz signals next to 17 children's heads for 12 minutes while measuring brain activity. They found no statistically significant changes in the children's auditory processing abilities during exposure. However, the study was only large enough to detect major effects, meaning smaller impacts could have been missed.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

No effects of mobile phone electromagnetic field on auditory brainstem response

Kwon MS, Jääskeläinen SK, Toivo T, Hämäläinen H. · 2010

Finnish researchers tested whether cell phone radiation affects hearing by measuring brain responses to sounds in 17 healthy adults. They found no changes in how the brain processed auditory signals when exposed to GSM phone emissions at 902.4 MHz. This suggests that short-term cell phone use doesn't interfere with the basic hearing pathways from the inner ear to the brainstem.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

No effects of mobile phone electromagnetic field on auditory brainstem response.

Kwon MS, Jääskeläinen SK, Toivo T, Hämäläinen H. · 2010

Researchers tested whether cell phone radiation affects how the brain processes sound by measuring auditory brainstem responses (electrical signals that travel from the ear to the brain) in 17 young adults exposed to GSM phone emissions. They found no differences in these brain signals whether the phone was on or off, suggesting that short-term cell phone radiation doesn't disrupt the basic pathway that carries sound information from the ear to the brain.

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.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

2-GHz band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields have no significant effect on cell proliferation and gene expression profile in human cells.

Sekijima M et al. · 2010

Japanese researchers exposed human brain cells and lung cells to 2.1 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to 3G cell phones) for up to 96 hours at various power levels. They found no significant changes in cell growth, survival, or gene expression patterns compared to unexposed cells. The study suggests that RF exposure within current safety guidelines doesn't trigger obvious cellular stress responses in laboratory conditions.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

2-GHz Band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields have no significant effect on cell proliferation and gene expression profile in human cells.

Takeda H et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed three types of human cells to 2.1 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to 3G cell phone signals) for up to 96 hours at various power levels. They found no significant effects on cell growth, survival, or gene activity compared to unexposed cells. The study suggests that RF exposure at levels within current safety guidelines doesn't cause immediate cellular stress or damage.

Effect of chronic exposure to a GSM-like signal (mobile phone) on survival of female Sprague-Dawley rats: Modulatory effects by month of birth and possibly stage of the solar cycle.

Bartsch H et al. · 2010

German researchers exposed female rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) throughout their lives. Exposed rats lived 9% shorter lives than unexposed rats - about 72-77 fewer days. The radiation levels matched typical cell phone exposure, suggesting chronic use might affect human lifespan.

Effects of 900-MHz microwave radiation on gamma-ray-induced damage to mouse hematopoietic system.

Cao Y, Xu Q, Jin ZD, Zhang J, Lu MX, Nie JH, Tong J. · 2010

Researchers exposed mice to 900-MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used by many cell phones) before exposing them to gamma radiation to see how it affected their blood-forming system. They found that the microwave exposure actually protected the mice from radiation damage, with less severe harm to bone marrow and spleen tissues. The protective effect appeared to work by boosting growth factors and helping blood-forming cells survive the gamma radiation.

Comparison of radiofrequency exposure of a mouse dam and foetuses at 900 MHz.

McIntosh RL et al. · 2010

Australian researchers developed detailed computer models to study how 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (used in older cell phones) affects pregnant mice and their developing fetuses. They found that while both mother and fetuses absorbed the radiation, the fetuses experienced 14% lower energy absorption and 45% less temperature increase than their mothers. This research provides crucial data for understanding how RF exposure during pregnancy might affect developing offspring differently than adults.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Microglial activation as a measure of stress in mouse brains exposed acutely (60 minutes) and long-term (2 years) to mobile telephone radiofrequency fields.

Finnie JW, Cai Z, Manavis J, Helps S, Blumbergs PC. · 2010

Researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation at 900 MHz for either one hour or repeatedly over two years, then examined their brains for signs of microglial activation (immune cells that respond to brain stress or damage). They found no evidence that either short-term or long-term radiofrequency exposure activated these immune cells, even though the same cells responded strongly when brain tissue was physically damaged. This suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels may not trigger the brain's stress response mechanisms.

The influence of the reflective environment on the absorption of a human male exposed to representative base station antennas from 300 MHz to 5 GHz.

Vermeeren G et al. · 2010

Researchers used computer modeling to study how reflective surfaces like walls and ground affect radiation absorption in the human body when exposed to cell tower antennas at various frequencies. They found that reflective environments can dramatically change radiation absorption levels - sometimes reducing it by 87% and other times increasing it by 630% compared to open space exposure. This reveals that current safety guidelines, which don't account for reflective environments, may not adequately protect people in real-world settings with buildings and metal surfaces.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of radio-frequency radiation-exposed MCF7 breast cancer cells.

Kim KB et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed breast cancer cells (MCF7) to cell phone radiation at 849 MHz for one hour daily over three days, then analyzed whether the radiation changed protein production in the cells. They found no significant or consistent changes in protein expression at either exposure level tested (2 or 10 W/kg SAR). This suggests that radiofrequency radiation at these levels does not alter how cells make proteins, which is important because protein changes can indicate cellular stress or damage.

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.

Effects of GSM signals during exposure to event related potentials (ERPs)

Bak M, Dudarewicz A, Zmyślony M, Sliwinska-Kowalska M · 2010

Researchers exposed 15 volunteers to GSM cell phone radiation for 20 minutes while measuring their brain activity using a test called event-related potentials (ERPs), which tracks how the brain processes information. They found that during EMF exposure, the brain's P300 wave amplitude decreased significantly, but returned to normal levels immediately after exposure ended. This suggests that cell phone radiation can temporarily alter brain function in real-time.

FAQs: EMF in Personal Devices & Wearables

The personal devices & wearables environment contains several common sources of electromagnetic field exposure including cell phones, laptops, bluetooth devices. Together, these 3 sources account for 3,372 peer-reviewed studies in the BioInitiative Report database examining their potential health effects.
There are 3,372 peer-reviewed studies in our database examining EMF sources commonly found in personal devices & wearables environments. These studies cover 3 different EMF sources: Cell Phones (1,326 studies), Laptops (1,772 studies), Bluetooth Devices (274 studies). The research includes both laboratory experiments and epidemiological studies from scientists worldwide.
Laptops has the most research with 1,772 studies, followed by Cell Phones (1,326) and Bluetooth Devices (274). This research examines various biological endpoints including cellular effects, neurological impacts, and other health outcomes from EMF exposure in personal devices & wearables settings.