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 627 studies in Cancer & Tumors

Cytotoxicity of temozolomide on human glioblastoma cells is enhanced by the concomitant exposure to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (100Hz, 100G)

Unknown authors · 2017

The study evaluated the combined effect of 100 μM temozolomide and a 100 Hz, 100 G electromagnetic field on U87 and T98G human glioma cell lines. Co-treatment synergistically increased apoptosis in both cell lines by raising P53, Bax, and Caspase-3 expression and lowering Bcl-2 and Cyclin-D1 expression. The combination also increased reactive oxygen species production and overexpressed the heme oxygenase-1 gene compared to controls.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Probabilistic Multiple-Bias Modeling Applied to the Canadian Data From the Interphone Study of Mobile Phone Use and Risk of Glioma, Meningioma, Acoustic Neuroma, and Parotid Gland Tumors.

Momoli F et al. · 2017

Researchers re-analyzed Canadian data from the 13-country Interphone case-control study (2001–2004) to evaluate associations between mobile phone use and risks of brain, acoustic neuroma, and parotid gland tumors. For glioma, the odds ratio for the highest quartile of use (>558 lifetime hours) compared to non-regular users was 2.0 (95% CI 1.2–3.4), and after adjusting for selection and recall biases it became 2.2 (95% limits 1.3–4.1). There was little evidence of increased risk for meningioma, acoustic neuroma, or parotid gland tumors.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Analysis of mobile phone use among young patients with brain tumors in Japan.

Sato Y, Kojimahara N, Yamaguchi N · 2017

The study included 82 patients aged 6 to 18 years diagnosed with brain tumors between 2006 and 2010. Patients were divided into 16 mobile phone owners and 66 non-owners one year before diagnosis. Researchers used three general-population surveys to calculate expected ownership and found age-adjusted standardized ownership ratios of 0.83, 0.51, and 0.75 with confidence intervals of 0.56-1.22, 0.24-1.04, and 0.42-1.32. Mobile phone ownership prevalence among the young patients did not differ from general population estimates.

Mobile phone use and glioma risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yang M et al. · 2017

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies with 6028 cases and 11488 controls to investigate mobile phone use and glioma risk. Long-term mobile phone use of at least 10 years showed a significant positive association with glioma (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.08-1.91). Long-term ipsilateral use was also associated with glioma (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.12-1.92), while contralateral use was not associated regardless of duration. Long-term use was associated with 2.22 times greater odds of low-grade glioma (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.69-2.92), but mobile phone use of any duration was not associated with high-grade glioma (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72-0.92).

Proteomic analysis of continuous 900-MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure in testicular tissue: a rat model of human cell phone exposure.

Sepehrimanesh M, Kazemipour N, Saeb M, Nazifi S, Davis DL · 2017

Researchers exposed 20 Sprague-Dawley rats to 900 MHz RF-EMF for 0, 1, 2, or 4 hours per day for 30 consecutive days. After 4 hours of daily exposure, ATP synthase beta subunit and hypoxia up-regulated protein 1 precursor were significantly up-regulated. The authors state that these protein increases are related to carcinogenic risk and reproductive damage.

Radiofrequency radiations induced genotoxic and carcinogenic effects on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) root tip cells.

Qureshi ST, Memon SA, Abassi AR, Sial MA, Bughio FA. · 2017

Researchers exposed dry chickpea seeds to GSM cell phone radiation at 900 MHz and laptop radiation at 3.31 GHz for 24 and 48 hours. Untreated seeds served as a negative control and gamma rays at 250 Gray served as a positive control. All radiofrequency treatments inhibited seed germination, with the 48-hour laptop exposure showing the strongest negative effect. Mitotic index decreased and abnormality index increased as exposure duration and frequency increased. Cell membrane damage, nuclear membrane damage, and ghost cells were observed only after 48 hours of exposure.

Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

Mokarram P, Sheikhi M, Mortazavi SMJ, Saeb S4 Shokrpour N · 2017

Exposure to RF radiation altered the ERα gene methylation pattern compared to non-exposed controls. A subsequent gamma-ray challenge dose did not induce an adaptive response in ERα methylation. The study concluded that GSM mobile phone RF radiation can lead to epigenetic detrimental changes in ERα promoter methylation.

Mobile phones, cordless phones and rates of brain tumors in different age groups in the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Swedish Cancer Register during 1998-2015.

Hardell L, Carlberg M. · 2017

Researchers analyzed brain tumor rates in the Swedish National Inpatient Register and Swedish Cancer Register from 1998 to 2015. The average annual percentage change for brain tumors increased by 2.06% per 100,000 in both genders combined. A joinpoint in 2007 showed a shift from a 0.16% annual change before 2007 to a 4.24% annual change after 2007. The highest increase was in the 20-39 year age group. The authors concluded that underreporting to the Cancer Register means real incidence is higher and trends should be used with caution.

Evaluation of Mobile Phone and Cordless Phone Use and Glioma Risk Using the Bradford Hill Viewpoints from 1965 on Association or Causation.

Carlberg M, Hardell L. · 2017

The authors evaluated glioma risk from mobile and cordless phone use using Bradford Hill's viewpoints. All nine viewpoints were evaluated based on epidemiology and laboratory studies. A meta-analysis of case-control studies found an odds ratio of 1.90 (95% CI 1.31-2.76) with highest cumulative exposure. Risk increased with latency, with an OR of 1.62 (95% CI 1.20-2.19) for 10+ years latency. Highest risk was in the 20+ years latency group, OR 2.01 (95% CI 1.41-2.88) for wireless phones.

Exposure to a specific time-varying electromagnetic field inhibits cell proliferation via cAMP and ERK signaling in cancer cells.

Buckner CA, Buckner AL, Koren SA, Persinger MA, Lafrenie RM. · 2017

Researchers exposed malignant cell lines to the Thomas-EMF pattern for one hour per day and observed inhibited cell growth. The same exposure did not alter growth of non-malignant cells. The anti-proliferative effect was mediated by cAMP and ERK signaling pathways. Exposure transiently altered cellular cAMP levels and promoted ERK phosphorylation in malignant cells.

Simultaneous application of cisplatin and static magnetic field enhances oxidative stress in HeLa cell line

Kamalipooya S et al. · 2017

Researchers studied the effects of combining a static magnetic field (SMF) with the anticancer drug cisplatin on oxidative stress in human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and normal skin fibroblast cells (Hu02). Cells were exposed to SMF intensities of 7, 10, and 15 mT for 24 and 48 hours, and cytotoxic effects were measured using reactive oxygen species content and membrane lipid peroxidation. The combination of both treatments for 48 hours led to a marked decrease in HeLa cell viability of about 89% compared to untreated cells. The study suggests that among the optional intensities of SMF tested, the intensity of 10 mT led to higher damage to cancer cells at lower doses of the drug.

Power frequency magnetic field promotes a more malignant phenotype in neuroblastoma cells via redox-related mechanisms.

Falone S et al. · 2017

Researchers investigated whether a 50 Hz, 1 mT ELF magnetic field promoted hyperproliferation and improved defence against reactive oxygen species in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The field activated antioxidant and detoxification pathways linked to more aggressive cell behavior, along with upregulation of major sirtuins and increased NRF2 signaling. Exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field as low as 100 µT may still be able to alter cancer cell behavior and responses to clinically relevant drugs.

Cancer & Tumors117 citations

2016 NTP Report of Partial Findings (Rats)

Unknown authors · 2016

The report presents partial findings, including low incidences of malignant gliomas in the brain and schwannomas in the heart of male rats exposed to CDMA and GSM modulated RFR. Potentially preneoplastic lesions were also observed in the brain and heart of male rats exposed to RFR.

Whole Body / General
Not an original health-effects study

Radiofrequency radiation at Stockholm Central Railway Station in Sweden and some medical aspects on public exposure to RF fields

Hardell L et al · 2016

Researchers used an exposimeter to measure radiofrequency radiation across 20 bands from 88 to 5,850 MHz at Stockholm Central Railway Station. They recorded 1,669 data points and found a median total exposure of 921 μW/m2 with mean levels varying between 2,817 and 4,891 μW/m2 per walking round. High mean measurements were observed for GSM + UMTS 900 downlink and UMTS 2100 downlink, and almost all levels exceeded the BioInitiative precautionary target of 3–6 μW/m2.

The Intracranial Distribution of Gliomas in Relation to Exposure From Mobile Phones: Analyses From the INTERPHONE Study.

Grell K et al. · 2016

Researchers used a point process model to investigate the association using tumor localization data from the INTERPHONE Study across Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The association was statistically significant and independent of cumulative call time and cumulative number of calls. The main analysis included 792 regular mobile phone users diagnosed with a glioma between 2000 and 2004.

Cancer & Tumors
Not an original health-effects study

Dielectric characterization of healthy and malignant colon tissues in the 0.5-18 GHz frequency band.

Fornes-Leal A et al. · 2016

The dielectric constant of cancerous tissue was 8.8% higher than healthy tissue with statistical significance (p = 0.002). Conductivity was about 10.6% higher in cancerous tissue but the measurements did not have statistical significance (p = 0.038). Per-patient analysis showed systematic differences in dielectric constant between healthy and malignant tissues.

Has the incidence of brain cancer risen in Australia since the introduction of mobile phones 29 years ago?

Chapman S, Azizi L, Luo Q, Sitas F. · 2016

Researchers examined age and gender specific brain cancer incidence rates for 19,858 males and 14,222 females diagnosed in Australia between 1982 and 2012 alongside mobile phone usage data from 1987 to 2012. Age-adjusted brain cancer incidence rates were stable in females and rose slightly in males over the 30-year period. Modelled expected rates assuming a causal relative risk of 1.5 with a 10-year lag were substantially higher than observed rates in 2012, with 1434 cases observed versus 1867 expected. Significant increases in incidence were seen only in people aged 70 years and older, and this increase began in 1982 before mobile phones were introduced.

Analysis of the Genotoxic Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation using Buccal Micronucleus Assay: A Comparative Evaluation.

Banerjee S, Singh NN, Sreedhar G, Mukherjee S. · 2016

The study explored the effects of mobile phone radiation on micronucleus frequency in oral mucosal cells. Subjects were divided into low users (less than five years and less than three hours per week) and high users (more than five years and more than 10 hours per week). High mobile phone users showed a significantly increased number of micronucleated cells per 1000 exfoliated buccal mucosal cells compared to low users. The use of mobile phones with warmth around the ear showed the maximum increase in micronucleated cells. Mobile phone radiation even in the permissible range when used for longer duration causes significant genotoxicity, and the genotoxicity can be avoided to some extent by the regular use of headphones.

Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Parotid Gland Tumors: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Al-Qahtani K. · 2016

The study investigated the association between cellular phone use and parotid gland tumor risk using a hospital-based retrospective case-control design. The study enrolled 26 patients with parotid gland tumors and 61 healthy controls from a tertiary hospital between January 1996 and March 2013. The odds of cellular phone exposure were 3.47 times higher among patients than controls, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.3 to 9.23, indicating statistical significance at the 5% level. An association was observed between cellular phone use for more than one hour daily and parotid tumors, but the authors cautioned that the small sample size limits interpretation.

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