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

School EMF Research

RFELF Magnetic

Research on EMF in educational settings - WiFi networks, Chromebooks, and interactive whiteboards.

3
Sources
2,348
Studies
2
EMF Types

Related Studies (1,772)

In vitro cytogenetic effects of 2450 MHz waves on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Maes A, Verschaeve L, Arroyo A, De Wagter C, Vercruyssen L · 1993

Researchers exposed human blood cells to 2,450 MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in microwave ovens and WiFi) for 30 and 120 minutes while maintaining body temperature. They found significant increases in chromosome damage and micronuclei formation - both indicators of genetic damage that can lead to cancer and other health problems. This study demonstrates that microwave radiation can directly damage human DNA even when heating effects are controlled for.

Cellular Effects118 citations

The role of coherence time in the effect of microwaves on ornithine decarboxylase activity.

Litovitz TA, Krause D, Penafiel M, Elson EC, Mullins JM, · 1993

Scientists exposed cells to microwave radiation similar to cell phones and found that timing matters for biological effects. When signals switched frequencies too quickly, no cellular changes occurred. But maintaining each frequency for 10+ seconds doubled a key enzyme's activity, showing cells need time to respond.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Effect of amplitude-modulated radio frequency radiation on cholinergic system of developing rats.

Kunjilwar KK, Behari J · 1993

Researchers exposed developing rats to radio frequency radiation at 147 MHz and lower frequencies for 3 hours daily over 30-35 days to study effects on the brain's cholinergic system, which is crucial for memory and learning. They found a significant decrease in acetylcholine esterase activity, an enzyme that helps regulate brain communication. This suggests that prolonged RF exposure during brain development may disrupt normal neurological function.

CardiovascularNo Effects Found

Calcium-ion movement and contractility in atrial strips of frog heart are not affected by low-frequency-modulated, 1 GHz electromagnetic radiation.

Schwartz JL, Mealing GA · 1993

Researchers exposed frog heart tissue to 1 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 32 minutes at various power levels to see if it affected calcium movement and heart muscle contractions. They found no changes in either calcium flow or the heart muscle's ability to contract, even at the highest exposure levels tested. This suggests that short-term RF exposure at these frequencies may not directly disrupt basic heart muscle function.

The effect of pulsed microwaves on passive electrical properties and interspike intervals of snail neurons.

Field AS, Ginsburg K, Lin JC · 1993

Researchers exposed snail neurons to pulsed 2.45 GHz microwaves and found they caused significant changes to the neurons' electrical properties, specifically increasing their resistance to electrical current. These effects occurred without any temperature changes, proving the microwaves directly affected nerve cell function. This demonstrates that radiofrequency radiation can alter how neurons work at the cellular level.

Inter-beat intervals of cardiac-cell aggregates during exposure to 2.45 GHz CW, pulsed, and square-wave-modulated microwaves.

Seaman RL, DeHaan RL · 1993

Researchers exposed chicken embryo heart cells to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in microwave ovens and WiFi) and measured changes in their beating patterns. They found that the cells' rhythm changed in ways that couldn't be explained by simple heating effects alone, suggesting that microwaves can directly affect heart cells through non-thermal mechanisms at power levels as low as 1.2 watts per kilogram.

[Pharmacologic correction of learning and memory disorders induced by exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation].

Krylov IN, Iasnetsov VV, Dukhanin AS, Pal'tsev IuP · 1993

Russian researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation at 2375 MHz (similar to some WiFi frequencies) and found it caused retrograde amnesia - the inability to recall memories formed before the exposure. The memory loss involved multiple brain chemical systems including those that regulate mood and cognition. However, two drugs called piracetam and oxiracetam were able to prevent the memory damage when given before exposure.

Effects of modulated and continuous microwave irradiation on pyroantimonate precipitable calcium content in junctional complex of mouse small intestine.

Somosy Z, Thuroczy G, Kovacs J · 1993

Researchers exposed mice to WiFi-frequency radiation (2.45 GHz) and found that pulsed signals at very low power levels rapidly changed calcium distribution in intestinal cells, while continuous signals had no effect. This shows that signal pulsing patterns, not just intensity, can trigger biological responses.

Microwave induced alteration in the neuron specific enolase gene expression.

Verma M, Dutta SK. · 1993

Researchers exposed cells containing neuron-specific enolase genes to low-level microwave radiation (915 MHz) and found it increased production of neuron-specific enolase, a protein that serves as a diagnostic marker for brain and lung cancers. The exposure level was extremely low at 0.05 milliwatts per kilogram, far below current safety limits. This suggests that even minimal microwave exposure can alter the expression of genes linked to cancer markers.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Effects of microwaves on membranes of hematopoietic cells in their structural and functional organization.

Rotkovska D, Bartonickova A, Kautska J · 1993

Researchers exposed mouse bone marrow cells to microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz (the same frequency used by microwave ovens and WiFi) to study effects on cell membranes and blood cell production. They found no structural damage to cell membranes and no changes in the cells' ability to produce blood cells in the spleen. However, they discovered that microwave exposure could potentially interfere with cell growth processes through receptor-level mechanisms.

Differential response of the permeability of the rat liver canalicular membrane to sucrose and mannitol following in vivo acute single and multiple exposures to microwave radiation (2.45 GHz) and radiant-energy thermal stress.

Lange DG, D'Antuono ME, Timm RR, Ishii TK, Fujimoto JM. · 1993

Researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz (the same frequency used by microwave ovens and WiFi) to study effects on liver function. They found that repeated exposures caused permanent changes to liver cell membranes that control bile production and toxin processing. The microwave radiation caused more severe liver damage than heat alone, suggesting the electromagnetic fields themselves were harmful beyond just thermal heating effects.

Long-term, low-level microwave irradiation of rats.

Chou CK, Guy AW, Kunz LL, Johnson RB, Crowley JJ, Krupp JH · 1992

Researchers exposed 200 rats to low-level microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for nearly their entire lifetimes, 21.5 hours daily for 25 months. The study monitored blood chemistry, hormone levels, immune function, and overall health throughout the animals' lives. This represents one of the most comprehensive long-term studies of microwave radiation effects on living organisms.

Dose dependence of acetylcholinesterase activity in neuroblastoma cells exposed to modulated radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation.

Dutta SK, Das K, Ghosh B, Blackman CF · 1992

Researchers exposed neuroblastoma brain cells to 147-MHz radio frequency radiation (similar to frequencies used in wireless devices) for 30 minutes and found it increased activity of acetylcholinesterase, a key enzyme involved in brain cell communication. The effect only occurred at specific power levels that had previously been shown to disrupt calcium release in the same type of cells. This suggests that RF radiation can interfere with fundamental brain cell processes that control neurotransmitter function.

Single vs. repeated microwave exposure: effects on benzodiazepine receptors in the brain of the rat.

Lai H, Carino MA, Horita A, Guy AW · 1992

Researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation (2450 MHz) for 45 minutes and measured changes in brain receptors that respond to anxiety and stress. A single exposure increased these stress-related receptors in the brain's cortex, but repeated exposures over 10 days showed the brain adapted to the radiation. The findings suggest that microwave radiation at levels similar to some wireless devices can trigger a stress response in the brain.

Effects of continuous and pulsed 2450-MHz radiation on spontaneous lymphoblastoid transformation of human lymphocytes in vitro.

Czerska EM, Elson EC, Davis CC, Swicord ML, Czerski P · 1992

Researchers exposed human immune cells (lymphocytes) to microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz for five days, comparing continuous waves versus pulsed waves at the same power levels. They found that pulsed microwave radiation enhanced cellular transformation even when temperatures stayed normal, while continuous waves only caused effects when heating occurred. This suggests that the timing pattern of radiation exposure, not just the total energy, affects how our immune cells respond.

Modification of membrane fluidity in melanin-containing cells by low-level microwave radiation.

Phelan AM, Lange DG, Kues HA, Lutty GA · 1992

Researchers exposed melanoma cells to low-level microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz (the same frequency as microwave ovens) and found it altered cell membrane structure, making them more rigid. The effect only occurred in cells containing melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color) and was caused by oxygen radicals - harmful molecules that can damage cells. This suggests people with darker skin may be more vulnerable to microwave radiation effects.

Effects of whole body microwave exposure on the rat brain contents of biogenic amines.

Inaba R, Shishido K, Okada A, Moroji T. · 1992

Researchers exposed rats to microwave radiation at 2450 MHz (the same frequency used in microwave ovens and WiFi) for one hour and measured changes in brain chemistry. They found that exposure altered the levels and processing of key brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, including noradrenaline and dopamine metabolites, which are crucial for mood, attention, and brain function. These neurochemical changes occurred even at the lower power level tested.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Modification of acoustic startle by microwave pulses in the rat: a preliminary report.

Seaman RL, Beblo DA · 1992

Researchers exposed rats to intense microwave pulses just before loud sounds to see if the microwaves affected their startle reflex. They found that moderate-intensity microwave pulses delayed and reduced the rats' startle responses, but surprisingly, higher-intensity pulses had no effect. This suggests that microwave radiation can interfere with nervous system responses, but the relationship isn't straightforward.

Naltrexone-sensitive analgesia following exposure of mice to 2450-MHz radiofrequency radiation

Maillefer RH, Quock RM · 1992

Researchers exposed mice to microwave radiation at 2450 MHz (the same frequency used in microwave ovens) for 10 minutes and measured their pain response. They found that higher radiation levels caused the mice's bodies to heat up and triggered natural pain-killing mechanisms in the brain, similar to how the body responds to other forms of thermal stress. This suggests that microwave radiation can cause biological effects beyond just heating tissue.

FAQs: EMF in School / Classroom

The school / classroom environment contains several common sources of electromagnetic field exposure including wifi routers, laptops, bluetooth devices. Together, these 3 sources account for 2,348 peer-reviewed studies in the BioInitiative Report database examining their potential health effects.
There are 2,348 peer-reviewed studies in our database examining EMF sources commonly found in school / classroom environments. These studies cover 3 different EMF sources: WiFi Routers (302 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 WiFi Routers (302) and Bluetooth Devices (274). This research examines various biological endpoints including cellular effects, neurological impacts, and other health outcomes from EMF exposure in school / classroom settings.