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)

Oxidative StressNo Effects Found

Hsp70 expression and free radical release after exposure to non-thermal radio-frequency electromagnetic fields and ultrafine particles in human Mono Mac 6 cells.

Simkó M et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human immune cells to radiofrequency radiation at cell phone levels (2 W/kg SAR) and ultrafine air pollution particles to see if they would trigger cellular stress responses. They found that while the particles caused significant oxidative stress and free radical production, the RF radiation alone showed no measurable effects on stress proteins or free radical levels, even when combined with the particles.

Chronic exposure to GSM 1800-MHz microwaves reduces excitatory synaptic activity in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Xu S, Ning W, Xu Z, Zhou S, Chiang H, Luo J. · 2006

Researchers exposed rat brain cells to 1800-MHz cell phone radiation (the same frequency used by GSM phones) for 15 minutes daily over 8 days. They found that this exposure weakened the electrical connections between brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain region crucial for memory and learning. The radiation reduced the strength of signals that brain cells use to communicate with each other.

Psychophysiological tests and provocation of subjects with mobile phone related symptoms

Wilen J, Johansson A, Kalezic N, Lyskov E, Sandstrom M · 2006

Swedish researchers exposed 20 people who experience symptoms from mobile phones (like headaches or fatigue) and 20 people without such symptoms to 30 minutes of GSM cell phone radiation at 1 W/kg SAR. While the radiation exposure itself didn't cause measurable changes in either group, the symptomatic individuals showed different nervous system patterns during cognitive tests, suggesting their autonomic nervous systems may respond differently to stress regardless of EMF exposure.

Psychophysiological tests and provocation of subjects with mobile phone related symptoms.

Wilen J, Johansson A, Kalezic N, Lyskov E, Sandstrom M. · 2006

Swedish researchers exposed 20 people who experience symptoms from mobile phones and 20 people without symptoms to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 30 minutes at levels typical of phone use. While the radiation didn't cause immediate measurable changes in either group, the symptomatic individuals showed different nervous system patterns during cognitive tests, suggesting their autonomic nervous systems may function differently regardless of radiation exposure.

Oxidative StressNo Effects Found

Free radical release and HSP70 expression in two human immune-relevant cell lines after exposure to 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation.

Lantow M, Schuderer J, Hartwig C, Simko M. · 2006

Researchers exposed human immune cells to cell phone radiation at 1800 MHz (the frequency used by GSM networks) to see if it would trigger the production of harmful free radicals or stress proteins. Even at high exposure levels up to 2.0 W/kg, the radiation did not cause any significant increase in free radical production or stress protein expression in the cells. This suggests that cell phone radiation at these levels may not trigger the type of cellular damage that free radicals can cause.

Effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellular telephones on the cognitive functions of humans.

Eliyahu I et al. · 2006

Israeli researchers exposed 36 healthy men to cell phone radiation at 890 MHz for two hours while they performed cognitive tasks designed to test different brain regions. They found that radiation exposure to the left side of the brain significantly slowed reaction times for left-hand responses, particularly during the second hour of exposure. This suggests that cell phone radiation can impair cognitive performance in the specific brain areas closest to the phone.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

The sensitivity of human event-related potentials and reaction time to mobile phone emitted electromagnetic fields.

Hamblin DL, Croft RJ, Wood AW, Stough C, Spong J. · 2006

Researchers exposed 120 people to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes while measuring their brain activity and reaction times during cognitive tasks. They found no significant changes in brain function, reaction speed, or electrical brain patterns compared to fake exposure sessions. This contradicts some earlier studies that suggested cell phones might affect how quickly the brain processes information.

Survey of RF exposure levels from mobile telephone base stations in Australia.

Henderson SI, Bangay MJ. · 2006

Australian researchers measured radiofrequency radiation levels around 60 cell phone towers across five cities, testing distances from 50 to 500 meters away. They found that all measured exposure levels were well below government safety limits, with the highest reading reaching only 0.2% of the allowed public exposure threshold. This study provides baseline data on how much RF radiation people actually encounter from cell towers in everyday environments.

The effect of increase in dielectric values on specific absorption rate (SAR) in eye and head tissues following 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz radio frequency (RF) exposure.

Keshvari J, Keshvari R, Lang S. · 2006

Researchers used computer modeling to examine how radiofrequency energy from cell phones is absorbed by children's heads compared to adults, accounting for the fact that children's tissues have higher water content. They tested common cell phone frequencies (900, 1800, and 2450 MHz) and found that even when tissue water content was increased by 5-20% to simulate children's physiology, energy absorption (SAR) varied by only about 5% on average. The study suggests that tissue composition differences between children and adults may have less impact on RF absorption than previously thought.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

935 MHz cellular phone radiation. An in vitro study of genotoxicity in human lymphocytes.

Stronati L et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human blood cells to cell phone radiation at 935 MHz (similar to 2G networks) for 24 hours to test whether it damages DNA or makes cells more vulnerable to DNA damage from X-rays. Using multiple standard tests on blood samples from 14 donors, they found no evidence that the radiation caused genetic damage on its own or made X-ray damage worse. The study tested radiation levels of 1-2 watts per kilogram, which are near the upper limits of what brain tissue absorbs during some cell phone calls.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

935 MHz cellular phone radiation. An in vitro study of genotoxicity in human lymphocytes

Stronati L et al. · 2006

Italian and British researchers exposed human immune cells (lymphocytes) to 935 MHz cell phone radiation for 24 hours at levels similar to what tissues experience during phone use. Using multiple DNA damage tests, they found no genetic damage from the radiation alone, and the radiation didn't make X-ray damage worse. This suggests that 24-hour exposure to this type of cell phone radiation doesn't directly break DNA or interfere with DNA repair.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

DNA strand breaks are not induced in human cells exposed to 2.1425 GHz band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields allocated to mobile radio base stations.

Sakuma N et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human brain and lung cells to 2.1425 GHz radiofrequency radiation at levels up to 10 times higher than public safety limits for up to 24 hours. They found no DNA damage in either cell type, even at the highest exposure levels tested. This suggests that cell phone tower radiation at these frequencies doesn't break DNA strands under laboratory conditions.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Proliferation and apoptosis in a neuroblastoma cell line exposed to 900 MHz modulated radiofrequency field

Merola P et al. · 2006

Italian researchers exposed neuroblastoma cells (a type of nerve cell) to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation at levels higher than occupational safety limits for up to 72 hours. They found no significant changes in cell growth, death, or differentiation processes. This suggests that even at elevated exposure levels, this type of cell phone radiation may not directly damage these particular nerve cells in laboratory conditions.

Electromagnetic absorption in the head of adults and children due to mobile phone operation close to the head.

de Salles AA, Bulla G, Rodriguez CE. · 2006

Researchers used computer simulations to compare how much radiofrequency radiation children's heads absorb from mobile phones compared to adults. They found that 10-year-old children absorb over 60% more radiation in their heads than adults when using the same phone. This happens because children have smaller heads, thinner skulls, and different tissue properties that allow deeper radiation penetration.

Mobile phone effects on children's event-related oscillatory EEG during an auditory memory task.

Krause CM et al. · 2006

Finnish researchers studied how mobile phone radiation affects brain activity in 15 children (ages 10-14) while they performed memory tasks. When exposed to 902 MHz radiation from an active phone, the children showed measurable changes in their brain wave patterns during both memory encoding and recognition phases. This demonstrates that cell phone radiation can directly alter brain function in developing minds, even during short-term exposure.

Effects of Global System for Mobile Communications 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on gene and protein expression in MCF-7 cells.

Zeng Q, Chen G, Weng Y, Wang L, Chiang H, Lu D, Xu Z. · 2006

Researchers exposed human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) to cell phone radiation at 1800 MHz for 24 hours to see if it changed gene and protein activity. While initial tests suggested some genes might be affected, follow-up verification tests found no consistent changes. The study concluded that cell phone radiation at these levels does not produce convincing evidence of biological effects on cellular gene or protein expression.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Comparative study of cell cycle kinetics and induction of apoptosis or necrosis after exposure of human mono mac 6 cells to radiofrequency radiation.

Lantow M, Viergutz T, Weiss DG, Simko M. · 2006

German researchers exposed human immune cells (Mono Mac 6 cells) to cell phone radiation at 1,800 MHz for 12 hours to see if it would cause cell death or disrupt normal cell division cycles. They found no statistically significant effects on cell death, cell division, or DNA synthesis compared to unexposed control cells. This suggests that at the tested exposure level, cell phone-type radiation did not harm these particular immune cells in laboratory conditions.

Immune SystemNo Effects Found

In vitro effects of GSM modulated radiofrequency fields on human immune cells.

Tuschl H, Novak W, Molla-Djafari H. · 2006

Researchers exposed human immune cells to cell phone radiation at 1950 MHz for 8 hours to see if it affected immune function. They tested multiple immune system markers including cytokine production (chemical messengers that coordinate immune responses) and gene activity. The study found no statistically significant effects on any immune parameters tested.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Phosphorylation and gene expression of p53 are not affected in human cells exposed to 2.1425 GHz band CW or W-CDMA modulated radiation allocated to mobile radio base stations.

Hirose H et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human brain and lung cells to radiofrequency radiation at 2.14 GHz (similar to cell tower frequencies) for up to 48 hours to see if it would trigger cell death or DNA damage responses. They tested exposure levels from 0.08 to 0.8 watts per kilogram - with the lowest level matching international safety limits for public exposure. The study found no evidence that this RF radiation caused cells to die, damaged DNA, or activated stress response pathways even at levels 10 times higher than safety guidelines.

Immunotropic influence of 900 MHz microwave GSM signal on human blood immune cells activated in vitro.

Stankiewicz W et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human immune cells to 900 MHz microwave radiation (similar to GSM cell phone signals) at very low power levels and found that the radiation significantly increased immune cell activity. The exposed cells showed stronger responses to immune stimulants compared to unexposed control cells. This suggests that even weak microwave radiation can alter how our immune system functions.

Immunotropic influence of 900 MHz microwave GSM signal on human blood immune cells activated in vitro.

Stankiewicz W et al. · 2006

Polish researchers exposed human immune cells to 900 MHz GSM cell phone signals at very low power levels (SAR 0.024 W/kg) and found that the microwave exposure significantly increased immune cell activity. The exposed cells showed stronger responses to immune stimulants and higher activity levels compared to unexposed control cells. This suggests that even low-level cell phone radiation can alter how your immune system functions at the cellular level.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Radiofrequency radiation does not induce stress response in human T-lymphocytes and rat primary astrocytes.

Lee JS, Huang TQ, Kim TH, Kim JY, Kim HJ, Pack JK, Seo JS. · 2006

Researchers exposed human immune cells and rat brain cells to cell phone-level radiofrequency radiation (1763 MHz) at power levels of 2 and 20 W/kg for up to one hour while carefully controlling temperature. They found no activation of cellular stress responses, including heat shock proteins and stress-signaling pathways that typically activate when cells are damaged. This suggests that RF radiation at these levels does not trigger the cellular alarm systems that respond to harmful stressors.

Effects of a 2450 MHz high-frequency electromagnetic field with a wide range of SARs on the induction of heat-shock proteins in A172 cells.

Wang J et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human brain cells (A172) to microwave radiation at 2450 MHz (the same frequency used in microwave ovens and WiFi) to see if it triggers cellular stress responses. They found that extremely high radiation levels (100-200 W/kg) caused specific stress protein changes that couldn't be explained by heating alone. This suggests microwave radiation may cause biological stress in cells through mechanisms beyond just warming tissue.

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.