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

EMF Research Studies

Browse 6,486 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from 4 research libraries.

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Showing 2,030 studies in Brain & Nervous System

Effect of magnetic field on food and water intake and body weight of spinal cord injured rats

Kumar S, Jain S, Behari J, Avelev VD, Mathur R. · 2010

Researchers studied the effect of magnetic field exposure on food intake, water intake, and body weight in rats with complete spinal cord injury. Exposure ran at 50 Hz and 17.9 T for 2 hours per day over 8 weeks in rats with complete spinal cord transection at the T13 level. The results suggest a significant beneficial effect of chronic exposure to magnetic field of paraplegic rats.

Effect of exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field with or without insulin on blood-brain barrier permeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Gulturk S et al. · 2010

Rats in the magnetic field groups were exposed to a 5 mT field for 165 minutes every day for 30 days, and all rats underwent Evans blue measurement to evaluate the blood-brain barrier. Diabetes and magnetic field exposure each increased blood-brain barrier permeability, their combination caused a greater increase, and insulin reduced that effect.

Exposure to extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis in C57BL/6 mice

Cuccurazzu B et al. · 2010

The exposure significantly enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, with increased numbers of cells labeled for markers of new and developing neurons. Roughly half of the newly generated neurons survived 30 days after stimulation and became mature neurons integrated into the granule cell layer. The new mature neurons were associated with increased long-term potentiation, indicating an influence on hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

Mobile-phone pulse triggers evoked potentials

Carrubba S, Frilot C 2nd, Chesson AL Jr, Marino AA · 2010

Researchers recorded EEGs from six standard locations in 20 volunteers to detect brain potentials triggered by a pulse of the type produced by mobile phones. Evoked potentials having the expected latency were found in 90% of the volunteers, as assessed using a nonlinear method of EEG analysis. Evoked potentials were not detected when the EEG was analyzed using time averaging. The possibility of systematic error was excluded by sham-exposure analyses.

Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field on Caspase Activities and Oxidative Stress Values in Rat Brain

Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Ulukaya E, Uzunlar AK, Kurt MA, Taşkin A · 2010

Researchers exposed rats to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields for 2 hours per day for 10 months, then measured apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in brain tissue. Apoptosis scores and MPO activity were not significantly different between the exposed and sham groups. MDA, TOS, and OSI values were found to be higher in the ELF-500 group than in the ELF-100 and sham groups, and total antioxidative capacity was lower in the ELF-500 group.

The role of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway in pro-inflammatory responses of EMF-stimulated N9 microglial cells

Yang X, He G, Hao Y, Chen C, Li M, Wang Y, Zhang G, Yu Z · 2010

Researchers studied how electromagnetic field exposure affects N9 microglial cells and the role of the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway in any resulting pro-inflammatory responses. EMF significantly induced phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3, and also dramatically increased the expression of CD11b, TNF-α, and iNOS, and the production of NO. When cells were pretreated with the JAK inhibitor P6, phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 was strongly suppressed, and expression of CD11b, TNF-α, and iNOS was suppressed at 12 hours but not at 3 hours after EMF exposure.

Purkinje cell number decreases in the adult female rat cerebellum following exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field

Sonmez OF, Odaci E, Bas O, Kaplan S · 2010

Researchers exposed 16-week-old adult female rats to 900 MHz EMF for 1 hour per day for 28 days and then counted Purkinje cells in the cerebellum using a stereological technique. The total number of Purkinje cells in the exposed group was significantly lower than in both the control group (p < 0.004) and the sham-exposed group (p < 0.002). Body and brain weights did not differ significantly between the exposed and unexposed groups.

The effect of mobile phone on the number of Purkinje cells: a stereological study

Rağbetli MC et al. · 2010

Researchers investigated the effect of mobile phone exposure on Purkinje and granule neurons in the developing cerebellum. Pregnant Swiss albino mice were exposed to GSM mobile phone radiation at 890–915 MHz at 0.95 W/Kg specific absorption rate (SAR). The study found a significant decrease in the number of Purkinje cells and a tendency for granule cells to increase.

Chronic 835-MHz radiofrequency exposure to mice hippocampus alters the distribution of calbindin and GFAP immunoreactivity.

Maskey D et al. · 2010

Researchers investigated the effect of 835-MHz radiofrequency exposure on rat hippocampus for 3 months using immunohistochemical methods. A decrease in calbindin immunoreactivity was observed in the exposed group, with loss of interneurons and pyramidal cells in the CA1 area and loss of granule cells. An overall increase in GFAP immunoreactivity was observed in the hippocampus of exposed rats, and apoptotic cells were detected in the CA1, CA3 areas and dentate gyrus.

Effect of 835 MHz radiofrequency radiation exposure on calcium binding proteins in the hippocampus of the mouse brain.

Maskey D et al. · 2010

Researchers measured calbindin (CB) and calretinin (CR) expression in the hippocampus of mice after exposure to 835 MHz electromagnetic fields at various durations and absorption rates. Exposure conditions included 1 hour per day for 5 days at a specific absorption rate of 1.6 W/kg, 1 hour per day for 5 days at 4.0 W/kg, 5 hours per day for 1 day at 1.6 W/kg, 5 hours per day for 1 day at 4.0 W/kg, and daily exposure for 1 month at 1.6 W/kg. Exposure for 1 month produced almost complete loss of pyramidal cells in the CA1 area. Body weights did not change significantly across the exposure groups.

Radiofrequency fields, transthyretin, and Alzheimer's disease

Söderqvist F, Hardell L, Carlberg M, Mild KH · 2010

Researchers proposed that transthyretin (TTR), a protein that sequesters amyloid-beta, might help explain findings related to radiofrequency exposure and Alzheimer's disease. In a provocation study on 41 persons exposed for 30 minutes to an 890-MHz GSM signal at 1.0 Watt/kg to the temporal area of the brain, serum TTR was found to be statistically significantly increased 60 minutes after exposure. In a cross-sectional study on 313 subjects, a statistically significantly positive association was found between serum TTR and time since first use of mobile phones and desktop cordless phones combined (P=0.03).

Effects of mobile phone use on brain tissue from the rat and a possible protective role of vitamin C - a preliminary study.

Imge EB, Kiliçoğlu B, Devrim E, Cetin R, Durak I · 2010

Forty female rats were divided into four groups: control, mobile phone, mobile phone plus vitamin C, and vitamin C alone. The mobile phone groups were exposed to a mobile phone signal (900 MHz), and vitamin C was administered orally for four weeks. Mobile phone exposure caused an inhibition in 5'-NT and CAT activities compared to the control group, while GSH-Px activity and MDA levels were reduced but not significantly. The researchers suggested that vitamin C may play a protective role against detrimental effects of mobile phone radiation in brain tissue.

STAT3 signalling pathway is involved in the activation of microglia induced by 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields.

Hao Y, Yang X, Chen C, Yuan-Wang, Wang X, Li M, Yu Z · 2010

Researchers exposed murine N9 microglial cells to 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields and examined several molecular markers of cell activation. After exposure, a significant increase of STAT3 DNA-binding ability was noted, and EMF rapidly induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and activated JAK1 and JAK2. Transcription levels of the inflammation-associated genes iNOS and TNF-alpha also increased after EMF exposure. When a JAK inhibitor called P6 was applied, it reduced induction of iNOS and TNF-alpha, nuclear factor binding activity, and activation of STAT3 in EMF-stimulated microglia.

Whole body exposure with GSM 900 MHz affects spatial memory in mice

Fragopoulou AF et al. · 2010

Researchers tested the effects of mobile phone radiation on spatial learning and memory in mice using the Morris water maze, a hippocampal-dependent spatial memory task. The mice received a 2 h daily dose of pulsed GSM 900 MHz radiation from a commercially available mobile phone for 4 days at SAR values ranging from 0.41 to 0.98 W/kg. Exposed animals showed a deficit in transferring acquired spatial information across training days, with increased escape latency and distance swam compared to sham-exposed animals. During the memory probe trial, sham-exposed animals showed the expected preference for the target quadrant, while exposed animals showed no preference.

Effects of 2G and 3G mobile phones on human alpha rhythms: Resting EEG in adolescents, young adults, and the elderly

Croft RJ et al. · 2010

Researchers tested whether adolescents and the elderly are more sensitive to mobile phone-related bioeffects than young adults, using both 2G GSM and 3G W-CDMA exposures. Resting alpha activity in the 8-12 Hz band of the EEG was recorded and compared between conditions in a double-blind crossover design, with each participant receiving sham, 2G, and 3G exposures separated by at least 4 days. Young adults showed greater alpha activity in the 2G condition compared to sham, but no effect was found in adolescents or the elderly, and 3G exposure produced no effect in any group.

Effects of GSM signals during exposure to event related potentials (ERPs)

Bak M, Dudarewicz A, Zmyślony M, Sliwinska-Kowalska M · 2010

Researchers assessed the effect of electromagnetic field from the GSM mobile phone system on human brain function in volunteers. The assessment was based on event related potentials, with P300 latency, amplitude, and latency of the N1, N2, P2 waves analysed. The statistical analysis revealed an effect of EMF on P300 amplitude, with lower amplitudes observed only during exposure. No statistically significant changes were noted in the latencies of the N1, N2, P2 waves or in the latency of the P300 itself.

Electromagnetic Field Treatment Protects Against and Reverses Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease Mice

Arendash GW et al. · 2010

Researchers studied the effects of long-term EMF exposure at 918 MHz and 0.25 w/kg on both normal mice and transgenic mice bred to develop Alzheimer's-like cognitive impairment. Both cognitive-protective and cognitive-enhancing effects of EMF exposure were discovered for both normal mice and transgenic mice destined to develop Alzheimer's-like cognitive impairment. In Alzheimer's disease mice, long-term EMF exposure reduced brain amyloid-beta deposition through anti-aggregation actions and increased brain temperature during exposure periods. The researchers concluded that EMF exposure may represent a non-invasive, non-pharmacologic therapeutic against Alzheimer's disease, while cautioning against directly extrapolating these mouse findings to humans.

GFAP expression in the rat brain following sub-chronic exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal

Ammari M et al. · 2010

This study measured glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in 48 rat brains to evaluate reactive astrocytosis after sub-chronic head-only exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field signal. Rats were exposed either for 45 minutes per day at a SAR of 1.5 W/kg or for 15 minutes per day at a SAR of 6 W/kg, five days per week over an eight-week period. Compared to sham-treated rats, exposed rats showed an increase in GFAP levels in different brain areas, measured three and ten days after treatment.

Exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation induces oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA in primary cultured neurons.

Xu S et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed primary cultured cortical neurons to pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields at 1800 MHz modulated by 217 Hz at an average specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg. At 24 hours after exposure, researchers found a significant increase in levels of 8-hydroxyguanine, a common biomarker of DNA oxidative damage, in the mitochondria of neurons. The copy number of mitochondrial DNA and the levels of mitochondrial RNA transcripts showed an obvious reduction after RF exposure. Each of these mitochondrial DNA disturbances could be reversed by pretreatment with melatonin.

Mutagenic response of 2.45 GHz radiation exposure on rat brain.

Kesari KK, Behari J, Kumar S. · 2010

Researchers exposed male Wistar rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation for 2 hours a day for 35 days at a power density of 0.34 mW/cm2. The whole brain tissue was dissected and used for study of double strand DNA breaks by micro gel electrophoresis and comet assay. Exposed brain cells showed a significant increase in comet head, tail length, and tail movement. The study concluded that chronic exposure to these radiations may cause significant damage to brain, which may be an indication of possible tumour promotion.

The effect of radiofrequency radiation on DNA and lipid damage in non-pregnant and pregnant rabbits and their newborns.

Guler G, Tomruk A, Ozgur E, Seyhan N. · 2010

Researchers investigated oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation levels in the brain tissue of pregnant and non-pregnant New Zealand White rabbits and their newborns exposed to radiofrequency radiation. The rabbits were exposed to radiofrequency radiation at 1800 MHz GSM at 14 V/m for 15 minutes per day over 7 days. MDA and 8-OHdG levels in exposed pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits were significantly increased compared to controls, but no difference was found in the newborns.

Reactive oxygen species levels and DNA fragmentation on astrocytes in primary culture after acute exposure to low intensity microwave electromagnetic field.

Campisi A et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed primary rat neocortical astroglial cell cultures to electromagnetic fields in the microwave range, either as continuous waves or amplitude-modulated at 50 Hz, for 5, 10, or 20 minutes. A significant increase in ROS levels and DNA fragmentation was found only after exposure of the astrocytes to modulated EMF for 20 min. Cell viability was not affected, and the irradiation conditions allowed the exclusion of any possible thermal effect.

Abstract STUDY OBJECTIVES: Insufficient sleep among adolescents carries significant health risks, making it important to determine social factors that change sleep duration

• Smartphones may be the cause of the increase in self-reported short sleep duration et al. · 2009

Researchers drew from yearly, nationally representative surveys of adolescents conducted since 1991 and 2007, comprising a total of 369,595 participants. Compared to 2009, adolescents in 2015 were 16%-17% more likely to report sleeping less than 7 hours a night, with increases appearing after 2011-2013. New media screen time increased over the period and was associated with higher odds of short sleep duration, with a clear exposure-response relationship for electronic devices after 2 or more hours of use per day. Other activities linked to short sleep, such as homework, paid work, and TV watching, were relatively stable or reduced, making them unlikely causes of the sudden increase in short sleep. Short sleep prevalence increased from 35% to 41% and from 37% to 43%.

Labyrinthectomy abolishes the behavioral and neural response of rats to a high-strength static magnetic field

Unknown authors · 2009

Intact rats circled counterclockwise after 30 minutes in a 14.1 T magnet, but labyrinthectomized rats did not increase circling. Intact rats developed a strong conditioned taste aversion after three pairings of saccharin with 30-minute 14.1 T exposure, while labyrinthectomized rats did not. Significant c-Fos induction occurred in the brainstem of intact rats after 30-minute 14.1 T exposure, but not in labyrinthectomized rats.

Chronic prenatal exposure to the 900 megahertz electromagnetic field induces pyramidal cell loss in the hippocampus of newborn rats

Unknown authors · 2009

Pregnant rats were exposed to 900 megahertz electromagnetic fields during gestation days 1-19. Offspring were sacrificed at the end of the 4th week and pyramidal cell numbers in the cornu ammonis were estimated using the optical fractionator technique. Exposure significantly reduced the total pyramidal cell number in the cornu ammonis (P < 0.001).

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