6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.

Smart Meter Radiation Research

RF Radiation

Research on electromagnetic radiation from utility smart meters using RF communication.

1,753
Studies
81%
Showed Bioeffects
1
EMF Type
900 MHz - 2.4 GHz
Frequency

About Smart Meters EMF

  • -Smart meters are digital utility devices that automatically transmit your energy usage data to power companies using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in the 900 MHz to 2.4 GHz range.
  • -Unlike the old analog meters that required manual readings, these devices communicate wirelessly multiple times per day, creating a new source of EMF exposure directly on your home.
  • -What this means for you is continuous RF radiation emission from a device typically mounted just feet from your living space, often near bedrooms or kitchens where you spend significant time.

Smart meters are digital utility devices that automatically transmit your energy usage data to power companies using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in the 900 MHz to 2.4 GHz range. Unlike the old analog meters that required manual readings, these devices communicate wirelessly multiple times per day, creating a new source of EMF exposure directly on your home.

Related Studies (1,753)

Continuous exposure to 900MHz GSM-modulated EMF alters morphological maturation of neural cells.

Del Vecchio G et al. · 2009

Researchers studied the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on neuronal maturation using two in vitro models: murine SN56 cholinergic cells and rat primary cortical neurons. Cells were exposed at 1 W/kg at 900 MHz GSM modulated, and neurite emission, outgrowth, and branching were examined at multiple time points. RF-EMF exposure reduced the number of neurites in both cell systems, and this reduction correlated with increased expression of beta-thymosin mRNA.

Radioprotective effects of honeybee venom (Apismellifera) against 915-MHz microwave radiation-induced DNA damage in wistar rat lymphocytes: in vitro study.

Gajski G, Garaj-Vrhovac V. · 2009

Researchers investigated whether bee venom could protect against DNA damage caused by 915-MHz microwave radiation in Wistar rat lymphocytes. Whole blood lymphocytes were treated with 1 μg/mL bee venom before irradiation, and comet assays were used to assess basal and oxidative DNA damage. Bee venom showed a decrease in DNA damage compared with irradiated samples, and was found to have a radioprotective effect against both basal and oxidative DNA damage.

900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure affects qualitative and quantitative features of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the adult female rat

Bas O, Odaci E, Kaplan S, Acer N, Ucok K, Colakoglu S · 2009

Researchers investigated the number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampus of 16-week-old female rats following postnatal exposure to 900 MHz EMF. Rats in the EMF group were exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 1 hour per day for 28 days, with a SAR ranging from 0.016 (whole body) to 2 W/kg (locally in the head). Postnatal EMF exposure caused a significant decrease of the pyramidal cell number in the CA, and cell loss was also visible at qualitative observation.

Mobile phones exposure induces changes of contingent negative variation in humans

de Tommaso M et al. · 2009

Researchers evaluated whether 900 MHz GSM phone exposure changed a brain electrical measure called the initial contingent negative variation (iCNV) in healthy volunteers using a double blind design. Ten healthy right-handed volunteers were evaluated, each recorded during a 10 min time interval in each of the three experimental conditions: a real emitting phone, a sham phone whose power was dissipated internally, and a phone switched off. The iCNV amplitude decreased and habituation increased during both the real and sham phone conditions compared with the off condition, with no significant prevalence of iCNV amplitude reduction on the left side, where the phones were located.

Continuous exposure to 900MHz GSM-modulated EMF alters morphological maturation of neural cells

Del Vecchio G et al. · 2009

Italian researchers exposed developing brain cells to cell phone radiation at the same power level your phone uses during calls (1 W/kg SAR). The radiation significantly reduced the number of neural branches that normally grow as brain cells mature, suggesting cell phone signals may interfere with normal brain development. This finding raises concerns about wireless exposure during critical periods of brain development in children and adolescents.

Increased blood-brain barrier permeability in mammalian brain 7 days after exposure to the radiation from a GSM-900 mobile phone.

Nittby H et al. · 2009

Rats were exposed in TEM-cells for 2 hours at non-thermal specific absorption rates of 0, 0.12, 1.2, 12, and 120 mW/kg, and albumin extravasation over the blood-brain barrier, neuronal albumin uptake, and neuronal damage were assessed. Albumin extravasation was enhanced in the mobile phone exposed rats compared to sham controls after a 7-day recovery period, with a significant result at the SAR value of 12 mW/kg. There was a low but significant correlation between the exposure level and the occurrence of focal albumin extravasation.

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.

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.

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.

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes.

Schwarz C et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed human cultured fibroblasts and human lymphocyte cultures to 1,950 MHz UMTS electromagnetic fields at specific absorption rates below the safety limit of 2 W/kg. UMTS exposure increased the comet tail factor and induced centromere-negative micronuclei in human cultured fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent way. Incubation for 24 hours at a SAR of 0.05 W/kg produced a statistically significant rise in both the comet tail factor and micronuclei (P = 0.02). No UMTS effect was found in lymphocytes, whether unstimulated or stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin. The researchers concluded that UMTS exposure may cause genetic alterations in some but not in all human cells in vitro.

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes.

Schwarz C et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed human cells to 3G mobile phone radiation (UMTS at 1,950 MHz) at levels well below safety limits to test for DNA damage. They found that certain cells called fibroblasts showed significant genetic damage after exposure, while immune cells called lymphocytes were unaffected. This suggests that 3G radiation can cause DNA damage in some human cell types even at supposedly safe exposure levels.

SAR / Device Absorption
Not an original health-effects study

Proportion-corrected scaled voxel models for Japanese children and their application to the numerical dosimetry of specific absorption rate for frequencies from 30 MHz to 3 GHz

Nagaoka T, Kunieda E, Watanabe S · 2008

Researchers used an existing Japanese adult voxel model and three-dimensional deformation to create models representing average-size Japanese children at 3, 5, and 7 years old. The models consist of cubic voxels 2 mm on each side segmented into 51 tissues and organs. They calculated whole-body-averaged and tissue-averaged specific absorption rates for the child models exposed to plane waves from 30 MHz to 3 GHz and compared the results with scaled down adult models. They also determined the incident electric-field strength needed to produce a whole-body-averaged SAR of 0.08 W kg(-1), the ICNIRP basic restriction for general public exposure.

FAQs: Smart Meters EMF Research

Smart meters are digital utility devices that automatically transmit your energy usage data to power companies using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in the 900 MHz to 2.4 GHz range. Unlike the old analog meters that required manual readings, these devices communicate wirelessly multiple times per day, creating a new source of EMF exposure directly on your home.
The SYB Research Database includes 1,753 peer-reviewed studies specifically examining smart meters 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.
81% of the 1,753 studies examining smart meters electromagnetic radiation found measurable biological effects. This means that 1420 studies documented observable changes when organisms were exposed to smart meters EMF. The remaining studies either found no significant effects or had inconclusive results.