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

MRI Machine EMF Research

Static FieldsRF Radiation

Research on electromagnetic fields from magnetic resonance imaging, combining strong static fields with RF pulses.

126
Studies
75%
Showed Bioeffects
2
EMF Types
64-300 MHz
Frequency

Related Studies (126)

Harmful effects of 41 and 202 MHz radiations on some body parts and tissues.

Kumar V, Vats RP, Pathak PP. · 2008

Indian researchers studied how TV tower radiation at 41 and 202 MHz frequencies affects different human tissues including skin, muscle, bone, and fat. They calculated how electromagnetic waves penetrate the body and cause different amounts of energy absorption (called specific absorption rate or SAR) in different tissues. The study concluded that TV transmission towers should be located away from populated areas because their radiation can harm body tissues, and people should maintain safe distances from these towers.

Electromagnetic noise inhibits radiofrequency radiation-induced DNA damage and reactive oxygen species increase in human lens epithelial cells.

Yao K, Wu W, Wang K, Ni S, Ye P, Yu Y, Ye J, Sun L. · 2008

Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency radiation (the frequency used by GSM cell phones) at power levels of 1-4 watts per kilogram for 2 hours. They found that higher exposure levels caused DNA damage and increased harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species in the cells. Interestingly, when they added electromagnetic 'noise' to the radiation, it prevented these cellular damage effects.

Dielectric properties of porcine cerebrospinal tissues at microwave frequencies: in vivo, in vitro and systematic variation with age.

Peyman A, Holden SJ, Watts S, Perrott R, Gabriel C · 2007

Researchers measured how microwave radiation (50 MHz to 20 GHz) affects the electrical properties of brain and spinal cord tissues in pigs. They found that white matter and spinal cord tissues showed significant changes with age, while gray matter remained stable. This matters because understanding how different brain tissues respond to microwave frequencies helps us better predict potential health effects from wireless devices.

SAR in the mother and foetus for RF plane wave irradiation.

Dimbylow P. · 2007

Researchers created detailed computer models of pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy (8 to 38 weeks) to measure how radiofrequency radiation is absorbed by both the mother and developing baby. They found that current safety guidelines appear to provide adequate protection for the fetus, with radiation absorption levels staying within established limits across all pregnancy stages tested.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Influence of a 902.4 MHz GSM signal on the human visual system: investigation of the discrimination threshold.

Irlenbusch L et al. · 2007

Researchers exposed 33 people to GSM mobile phone signals near their eyes to test whether radiofrequency radiation affects visual sensitivity (the ability to detect light differences). Using exposure levels similar to holding a phone close to your face, they found no measurable changes in visual discrimination abilities during 30-minute exposure sessions. This suggests that typical mobile phone use doesn't immediately impair basic visual function.

Adaptation of human brain bioelectrical activity to low-level microwave.

Bachmann M et al. · 2007

Researchers exposed 14 healthy volunteers to low-level microwave radiation (450 MHz) and measured their brain activity using EEG. They found that the brain initially responded to the radiation by increasing electrical activity, but then adapted by reducing activity below normal levels. This adaptation occurred specifically in alpha and beta brain waves, which are associated with alertness and cognitive function.

Studying gene expression profile of rat neuron exposed to 1800MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields with cDNA microassay.

Zhao R, Zhang S, Xu Z, Ju L, Lu D, Yao G. · 2007

Chinese researchers exposed rat brain neurons to cell phone-frequency radiation (1800 MHz) for 24 hours at power levels similar to heavy phone use. They found that 34 genes changed their activity levels, affecting how neurons function in areas like cell structure, communication, and metabolism. This demonstrates that radiofrequency radiation can alter the fundamental genetic programming of brain cells.

Characterization of the electromagnetic near-field absorption in layered biological tissue in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 6000 MHz Phys.

Christ A, Samaras T, Klingenböck A, Kuster N. · 2006

Researchers analyzed how electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices is absorbed differently in real human tissue compared to the simplified liquid models used in safety testing. They found that the layered structure of human tissue - particularly fat layers under the skin - can increase radiation absorption by up to 3 times more than current testing methods predict. This means that official safety assessments may significantly underestimate how much radiation your body actually absorbs from phones and other wireless devices.

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.

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.

Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro

Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. · 2006

Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to mobile phone radiation at different power levels for 2 hours. Lower exposures caused repairable DNA damage, but higher levels (4 W/kg) created permanent breaks cells couldn't fix, suggesting phone radiation may overwhelm the eye's natural repair systems.

Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. · 2006

Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation for 2 hours at different power levels. Lower levels caused repairable DNA damage, but higher power (4 W/kg) caused permanent breaks cells couldn't fix, suggesting a threshold where radiation overwhelms natural repair.

[Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro.]

Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. · 2006

Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation for 2 hours at different power levels to see if it damages DNA. They found that lower exposure levels (up to 3 W/kg) caused temporary DNA breaks that the cells could repair, but higher exposure (4 W/kg) caused permanent DNA damage that cells couldn't fix.

DNA damage and repair induced by acute exposure of microwave from mobile phone on cultured human lens epithelial cells

Sun LX, Yao K, Jiang H, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW · 2006

Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation at different power levels for 2 hours to see if it damaged DNA. They found that lower exposure levels (similar to typical phone use) caused no DNA damage, but higher levels (4 times normal) did cause measurable DNA breaks and reduced cell growth. This suggests there may be a threshold below which cells can repair radiation damage effectively.

.[Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the expression of microtubule associated protein 2 in rat neurons]

Zhao R, Zhang SZ, Yao GD, Lu DQ, Jiang H, Xu ZP · 2006

Researchers exposed newborn rat brain cells to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) at 2 watts per kilogram for 24 hours and found that 34 out of 1,200 genes changed their expression levels. Most notably, a gene called MAP2, which helps maintain the structural framework of brain cells, became significantly more active after radiation exposure.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Investigation of co-genotoxic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in vivo.

Verschaeve L et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed female rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for 2 years while also giving them a known cancer-causing chemical in their drinking water to see if the radiation would make DNA damage worse. They found that the radiation alone didn't cause genetic damage, and it didn't increase the DNA damage caused by the chemical. This suggests that long-term exposure to cell phone-level radiation may not enhance the harmful effects of other toxins on our genetic material.

Is the brain influenced by a phone call? An EEG study of resting wakefulness.

Curcio G et al. · 2005

Italian researchers used EEG brain scans to measure how cell phone radiation affects brain activity in 20 healthy people during rest. They found that exposure to typical mobile phone signals (902.40 MHz) altered brain wave patterns in the alpha frequency band, with stronger effects when the phone signal was active during brain recording versus before it. This demonstrates that cell phone radiation can measurably change normal brain function, even when you're not actively using the phone.

Non-linear analysis of the electroencephalogram for detecting effects of low-level electromagnetic fields.

Bachmann M, Kalda J, Lass J, Tuulik V, Säkki M, Hinrikus H. · 2005

Estonian researchers exposed 23 healthy volunteers to low-level microwave radiation (450 MHz) and measured their brain activity using EEG electrodes. Using advanced analysis techniques, they found that microwave exposure increased brain wave variability in 25% of subjects - changes that traditional analysis methods couldn't detect. This suggests that even weak electromagnetic fields can alter normal brain function patterns.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

An investigation of the effects of TETRA RF fields on intracellular calcium in neurones and cardiac myocytes.

Green AC et al. · 2005

Researchers exposed brain and heart cells to TETRA radio signals (the frequency used by emergency services) to see if it disrupted calcium levels inside the cells. Calcium is crucial for cell function, especially in neurons and heart muscle. The study found no significant changes in calcium activity at any exposure level tested, suggesting TETRA fields don't interfere with this fundamental cellular process.

Electromagnetic fields affect transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes in embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells.

Nikolova T et al. · 2005

German researchers exposed developing brain cells to both power line frequencies (50 Hz) and cell phone frequencies (1.71 GHz) for 6 hours to study genetic effects. They found that both types of electromagnetic fields triggered changes in genes that control cell death and DNA damage responses, though the cells themselves appeared to function normally afterward. This suggests that EMF exposure can activate cellular stress responses even when no obvious harm is visible.

FAQs: MRI Machines EMF Research

Of 126 peer-reviewed studies examining mri machines electromagnetic radiation, 75% found measurable biological effects. These studies span decades of research conducted by scientists worldwide and include both laboratory experiments and epidemiological studies examining the health effects of mri machines radiation exposure.
The BioInitiative Report database includes 126 peer-reviewed studies specifically examining mri machines electromagnetic radiation and its potential health effects. These studies have been conducted by researchers worldwide and published in scientific journals. The research examines various biological endpoints including cellular effects, neurological impacts, reproductive health, and other health outcomes.
75% of the 126 studies examining mri machines electromagnetic radiation found measurable biological effects. This means that 95 studies documented observable changes when organisms were exposed to mri machines EMF. The remaining studies either found no significant effects or had inconclusive results.