8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Cardiovascular

[Evaluation of selected functional circulation parameters of workers from various occupational groups exposed to electromagnetic fields of high frequency. III. 24-h monitoring of arterial blood pressure].

Bioeffects Seen

Gadzicka E, Bortkiewicz A, Zmyslony M, Palczynski C · 1997

View Original Abstract
Share:

Chronic radio frequency exposure disrupted heart rate regulation in workers, suggesting EMF affects cardiovascular nervous system control.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Polish researchers monitored blood pressure and heart rate in 153 male workers exposed to radio frequency EMF at broadcast and radio service stations over periods ranging from 1 to 42 years. While overall blood pressure remained normal, workers showed significantly reduced heart rate variability, suggesting disrupted nervous system regulation of the heart. Radio service workers also had higher rates of elevated blood pressure compared to unexposed controls.

Why This Matters

This occupational study provides important evidence that chronic RF exposure affects cardiovascular regulation, even when workers don't show obvious blood pressure problems. The finding of reduced heart rate variability is particularly significant because this measurement reflects how well your autonomic nervous system controls your heart - and reduced variability is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk. The exposure levels in this study would have been substantially higher than typical consumer devices, but the duration of exposure (up to 42 years) demonstrates what can happen with long-term RF exposure. What makes this research especially credible is that it was designed to verify earlier Soviet studies using modern monitoring equipment, and it found similar cardiovascular effects that those earlier researchers reported decades ago.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1 MHz - 150 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1 MHz - 150 MHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 1 Mhz, 150 Mhz Duration: 0.5 h during daily activities and every 1 h during the night rest (about 41 measurements/day).

Study Details

Our study was aimed at verifying the Soviet data by means of modern methods.

Together with traditional methods, a 24-h monitoring of arterial blood pressure (ABP) using a Medilo...

The study revealed that the mean arterial blood pressure and the day/night blood pressure variabilit...

Cite This Study
Gadzicka E, Bortkiewicz A, Zmyslony M, Palczynski C (1997). [Evaluation of selected functional circulation parameters of workers from various occupational groups exposed to electromagnetic fields of high frequency. III. 24-h monitoring of arterial blood pressure]. Med Pr 48(1):15-24, 1997.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_1997_evaluation_of_selected_functional_2094,
  author = {Gadzicka E and Bortkiewicz A and Zmyslony M and Palczynski C},
  title = {[Evaluation of selected functional circulation parameters of workers from various occupational groups exposed to electromagnetic fields of high frequency. III. 24-h monitoring of arterial blood pressure].},
  year = {1997},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9198713/},
}
PubMed: 9198713

Cited By (10 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, radio frequency radiation can affect heart rate regulation. A 1997 study of 153 broadcast workers found significantly reduced heart rate variability in those exposed to RF fields, suggesting disrupted nervous system control of the heart despite normal overall blood pressure levels.
RF exposure may increase blood pressure risk in some workers. Polish researchers found radio service workers had higher rates of elevated blood pressure compared to unexposed controls, though average blood pressure remained normal across all exposed groups studied.
Radio tower radiation may disrupt heart function regulation. Workers at broadcast stations showed significantly lower heart rate variability, indicating potential nervous system effects on cardiovascular control, even when their blood pressure measurements appeared normal during monitoring.
Radio wave exposure may affect cardiovascular regulation through the nervous system. A study of broadcast workers found reduced heart rate variability and higher blood pressure rates in some groups, suggesting potential impacts on heart rhythm control mechanisms.
EMF exposure can reduce heart rate variability, which indicates disrupted nervous system regulation of heart rhythm. Research on broadcast workers exposed to radio frequencies showed significantly lower variability compared to unexposed controls, suggesting autonomic nervous system effects.