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

EMF Research Studies

Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.

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Showing 1,453 studies in Cellular Effects

Effects of ELF-EMF on brain proteins in mice.

Strasák L, Bártová E, Krejci J, Fojt L, Vetterl V. · 2009

Researchers exposed laboratory mice to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz at 2 milliTesla) for four days and measured changes in brain proteins. They found that exposure decreased levels of c-Jun, a protein involved in cellular stress responses and gene regulation, while another protein (c-Fos) remained unchanged. This suggests that even short-term exposure to magnetic fields can alter brain biochemistry at the cellular level.

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

Gajski G, Garaj-Vrhovac V. · 2009

Researchers exposed rat blood cells to 915-MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in some mobile phones) for 4 hours and found it caused DNA damage. However, when they pre-treated the cells with bee venom, it significantly reduced this DNA damage, suggesting bee venom has protective properties against microwave radiation effects.

Changes in synaptic efficacy and seizure susceptibility in rat brain slices following extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic field exposure

Varró P, Szemerszky R, Bárdos G, Világi I. · 2009

Researchers exposed rat brain tissue to 50 Hz magnetic fields at levels commonly found near power lines (250-500 microtesla) and measured changes in brain cell communication. They found that direct exposure reduced normal brain signaling, while whole-body exposure increased seizure susceptibility and altered how brain cells strengthen their connections. These findings suggest that everyday electromagnetic fields from electrical infrastructure can measurably alter fundamental brain functions.

Effects of ELF-EMF on brain proteins in mice.

Strasák L, Bártová E, Krejci J, Fojt L, Vetterl V. · 2009

Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as electrical power lines) for 4 days and measured changes in brain proteins. They found that exposure significantly decreased levels of c-Jun, a protein crucial for brain cell communication and development. This suggests that even short-term exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields can alter important brain proteins.

Fifty hertz extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure elicits redox and trophic response in rat-cortical neurons.

Di Loreto S et al. · 2009

Researchers exposed rat brain cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields and found the exposure improved cell survival and reduced cell death. The magnetic fields also triggered protective antioxidant responses and increased production of proteins that support brain health, suggesting potential protective effects.

The action of pulse‐modulated GSM radiation increases regional changes in brain activity and c‐Fos expression in cortical and subcortical areas in a rat model of picrotoxin‐induced seizure proneness

López-Martín E et al. · 2009

Spanish researchers exposed rats to cell phone signals for 2 hours and found that pulsed GSM radiation affected brain activity differently than continuous radiation of equal strength. The pulsed signals altered gene activity in brain areas controlling seizures, emotions, and memory, suggesting unique biological effects beyond heating.

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.

Effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on in vitro models of neurodegenerative disease

Del Vecchio G et al. · 2009

Italian researchers exposed brain cells to cell phone radiation (900 MHz GSM at 1 W/kg SAR) for 144 hours to see if it made them more vulnerable to damage. While the radiation alone didn't harm the cells, it made one type of brain cell significantly more vulnerable to damage from hydrogen peroxide, a common cellular toxin that causes oxidative stress.

Effect of mobile phone exposure on apoptotic glial cells and status of oxidative stress in rat brain

Dasdag S, Akdag MZ, Ulukaya E, Uzunlar AK, Ocak AR · 2009

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for 2 hours daily over 10 months to study brain cell death (apoptosis) and oxidative stress. Surprisingly, they found reduced cell death and increased antioxidant activity in exposed rats compared to controls. This unexpected finding suggests the brain may activate protective mechanisms in response to chronic low-level radiation exposure.

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 exposed female rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for one hour daily over 28 days. They found significant loss of brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory and learning, raising concerns about potential effects from regular phone use.

Enhancement of chemically induced reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells by 872MHz radiofrequency radiation.

Luukkonen J et al. · 2009

Researchers exposed human brain cells to radiofrequency radiation at 872 MHz (similar to older cell phone frequencies) combined with a chemical that creates cellular damage. They found that continuous wave RF radiation at high intensity (5 W/kg SAR) increased both harmful oxygen molecules and DNA damage compared to the chemical alone. Interestingly, pulsed signals like those used in GSM phones showed no such effects, even at the same power level.

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 exposed rat blood cells to 915-MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 30 minutes and found it caused DNA damage. However, when they pre-treated the cells with honeybee venom, the DNA damage was significantly reduced. This suggests that certain natural compounds might help protect our cells from radiofrequency radiation damage.

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 levels similar to what phones emit (1 W/kg SAR at 900 MHz). They found that this radiation significantly reduced the growth of neurites - the branch-like extensions that neurons use to connect and communicate with each other. This suggests that cell phone radiation may interfere with normal brain cell development and connection formation.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Whole-body exposure of radiation emitted from 900 MHz mobile phones does not seem to affect the levels of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein.

Yilmaz F, Dasdag S, Akdag MZ, Kilinc N. · 2008

Researchers exposed rats to radiation from 900 MHz cell phones for 20 minutes daily for one month to see if it affected bcl-2, a protein that helps prevent cell death in the brain and testes. They found no changes in bcl-2 levels compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that at least for this specific cellular protection mechanism, short-term phone radiation exposure may not cause immediate harm to these organs.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Evaluation of HSP70 Expression and DNA Damage in Cells of a Human Trophoblast Cell Line Exposed to 1.8 GHz Amplitude-Modulated Radiofrequency Fields.

Valbonesi P et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed human placental cells to cell phone radiation (1.8 GHz GSM signals) for one hour at levels twice the current safety limit to see if it would trigger cellular stress responses or DNA damage. The radiation exposure produced no detectable effects on stress proteins or DNA integrity, unlike positive control treatments that did cause measurable damage. This suggests that short-term exposure to this type of cell phone radiation may not immediately harm these particular cells.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Effect of GSM-900 and -1800 signals on the skin of hairless rats. III: Expression of heat shock proteins.

Sanchez S et al. · 2008

Researchers exposed hairless rats to cell phone radiation (GSM-900 and GSM-1800 signals) for up to 12 weeks to see if it would trigger heat shock proteins, which are cellular stress markers that indicate when cells are under strain. The study found no changes in these stress proteins at any exposure level tested, including levels up to 5 watts per kilogram. This suggests that under these experimental conditions, the cell phone radiation did not cause detectable cellular stress in rat skin.

Immune SystemNo Effects Found

Effects of GSM-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on mouse bone marrow cells.

Prisco MG et al. · 2008

Italian researchers exposed mice to cell phone radiation (900 MHz GSM signals) for 4 weeks, then transplanted their bone marrow cells into radiation-damaged mice to test if the EMF exposure affected the immune system's ability to rebuild itself. The bone marrow cells from EMF-exposed mice performed just as well as unexposed cells in rescuing the damaged mice and rebuilding their immune systems. This suggests that moderate cell phone radiation exposure doesn't impair the bone marrow's critical immune-building functions.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Microscopic observation of living cells during their exposure to modulated electromagnetic fields

Moisescu MG, Leveque P, Bertrand JR, Kovacs E, Mir LM · 2008

French researchers developed a special microscope system to watch living cells in real time while exposing them to mobile phone-like electromagnetic fields at 900 MHz. They found that one hour of exposure at levels similar to heavy cell phone use increased the rate at which cells absorbed materials from their environment (endocytosis), but didn't affect cell division timing or duration. This study is significant because it's one of the few to directly observe cellular changes as they happen during EMF exposure.

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