Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.
Showing 1,453 studies in Cellular Effects
Koh EK, Ryu BK, Jeong DY, Bang IS, Nam MH, Chae KS · 2008
Researchers exposed prostate cancer cells to 60-Hz magnetic fields (the frequency of household electricity) and found the fields killed cancer cells by increasing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. This suggests power-line frequency magnetic fields might potentially be developed as cancer treatments.
Fitzsimmons RJ, Gordon SL, Kronberg J, Ganey T, Pilla AA. · 2008
Researchers exposed human cartilage cells (chondrocytes) to pulsed electric fields for 30 minutes and found the cells multiplied 150% more than untreated cells after 72 hours. The study identified the biological pathway responsible: the electric fields triggered calcium signaling, which produced nitric oxide, which ultimately stimulated cell growth. This demonstrates that electric fields can directly influence cellular processes through well-understood biochemical mechanisms.
Zhou ZD et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed human dendritic cells (immune system cells that help coordinate immune responses) to cell phone radiation at 1800 MHz for up to 24 hours. They found that the radiation significantly reduced key surface markers on these cells and impaired their ability to stimulate other immune cells, with effects worsening over longer exposure periods. This suggests that cell phone radiation may weaken immune system function at the cellular level.
Zhang SZ, Yao GD, Lu DQ, Chiang H, Xu ZP. · 2008
Researchers exposed rat brain cells to cell phone radiation (1.8 GHz) for up to 24 hours. The radiation altered 34 genes controlling brain cell structure, communication, and metabolism. Changes were stronger with intermittent exposure patterns, suggesting cell phone signals may affect brain function.
Zeni O et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed white blood cells from six healthy people to 3G cell phone radiation (1950 MHz UMTS) at levels similar to those from phones held against the head (2.2 W/kg SAR). They used intermittent exposures over 24 to 68 hours and tested for DNA damage using two sensitive laboratory methods. The study found no evidence of genetic damage or changes in how cells divide and grow.
Wu W, Yao K, Wang KJ, Lu DQ, He JL, Xu LH, Sun WJ. · 2008
Chinese researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) and found it caused DNA damage and increased harmful free radicals. However, when they added electromagnetic 'noise' fields alongside the phone radiation, this protective interference blocked the cellular damage. The study suggests that certain electromagnetic patterns might counteract the harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on eye cells.
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.
Roux D et al. · 2008
French researchers exposed tomato plants to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency used by cell phones) at low power levels for just 10 minutes. The plants immediately activated stress response genes and began producing proteins typically associated with injury or environmental damage. The study demonstrates that even brief, low-level radiofrequency exposure can trigger biological stress responses in living organisms.
Rao VS et al. · 2008
Mouse brain cells exposed to cell phone-like radiofrequency radiation showed dramatically altered calcium signaling, with three times more calcium spikes than unexposed cells. This matters because calcium controls critical brain cell functions including growth, development, and communication between neurons.
Pavicic I, Trosic I · 2008
Scientists exposed lab cells to cell phone frequencies (864 MHz and 935 MHz) for up to three hours. Cell growth patterns changed significantly 72 hours after longer exposures, even though cell survival wasn't affected. This shows radiofrequency radiation can disrupt normal cellular processes days after brief exposure.
Palumbo R et al. · 2008
Italian researchers exposed human immune cells to cell phone radiation for one hour and found a 22-32% increase in caspase 3, an enzyme linked to cellular stress. The effect only occurred in actively dividing cells, suggesting mobile phone radiation may impact growing immune cells.
Nittby H et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation at 1,800 MHz for 6 hours and found significant changes in brain gene activity. The genetic alterations affected genes controlling cell membranes and cellular communication in the cortex and hippocampus, the same brain regions where previous studies documented blood-brain barrier damage.
Mazor R et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed human blood cells to 800 MHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 72 hours at power levels close to current safety limits. They found significant increases in chromosome damage called aneuploidy, where cells gained or lost whole chromosomes. Importantly, this damage occurred even when temperature was carefully controlled, suggesting the radiation itself caused genetic harm through non-thermal mechanisms.
Karinen A, Heinavaara S, Nylund R, Leszczynski D. · 2008
Researchers exposed forearm skin in 10 women to typical mobile phone radiation levels, then analyzed tissue samples. They found 8 proteins significantly altered by the radiation exposure, with 2 proteins affected in all participants, demonstrating measurable biological changes from phone radiation.
Joubert V, Bourthoumieu S, Leveque P, Yardin C. · 2008
French researchers exposed rat brain cells to cell phone-level radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz at 2 W/kg SAR) for 24 hours and found it triggered programmed cell death through a specific cellular pathway. The brain cells died at rates significantly higher than control groups, even when accounting for the slight temperature increase from the radiation. This suggests that RF radiation can damage neurons through mechanisms beyond just heating effects.
Höytö A, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. · 2008
Researchers exposed human brain cells and mouse cells to cell phone-like radiation at 5 W/kg (10 times higher than typical phone use) for up to 24 hours. The radiation alone caused no harmful effects, but when cells were already stressed by chemical toxins, the radiation made some cellular damage worse. This suggests radiofrequency radiation might amplify harm in cells that are already under stress from other sources.
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.
Dawe AS et al. · 2008
Scientists exposed microscopic worms to cell phone-level radiation (1.8 GHz) to test if it triggers cellular stress responses. The radiation didn't activate stress proteins, and may have slightly reduced them by 15%. This suggests cell phone emissions don't trigger this particular stress response in these organisms.
Ammari M, Lecomte A, Sakly M, Abdelmelek H, de-Seze R. · 2008
French researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation and measured brain enzyme activity. High-intensity exposure (6 W/kg) for 15 minutes daily reduced brain activity in memory and decision-making regions after one week. Lower exposures showed no effects, suggesting intensity matters for brain function.
Ammari M et al. · 2008
French researchers exposed rats to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for 24 weeks and found that high-level exposure caused persistent brain inflammation. The study measured GFAP, a protein that increases when brain support cells called astrocytes become activated in response to injury or stress. This suggests that chronic cell phone radiation exposure may trigger ongoing inflammatory responses in brain tissue.
Aly AA et al. · 2008
Scientists exposed infection-fighting white blood cells to 900-MHz cell phone radiation. The RF exposure made cells move 50% faster and in wrong directions, away from infection sites they should target. This immune system disruption occurred within minutes at non-heating power levels.
George I et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (60 Hz at 8 microTesla) for 30 minutes before inducing heart attacks, then measured heart function recovery. The electromagnetic field exposure triggered production of a protective protein called HSP70, which significantly improved the heart's ability to recover from oxygen deprivation. This suggests that certain EMF exposures might actually help protect heart tissue from damage during cardiac events.
Ahmed Z, Wieraszko A. · 2008
Researchers exposed brain tissue from the hippocampus (memory center) to pulsed magnetic fields for 30 minutes. The neurons became significantly more electrically active, firing more signals and changing how they communicate. This shows magnetic fields can directly alter brain cell function.
Wu W, Yao K, Wang KJ, Lu DQ, He JL, Xu LH, Sun WJ. · 2008
Researchers exposed human eye lens cells to cell phone radiation at 4 watts per kilogram for 24 hours and found it caused significant DNA damage and increased harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. However, when they added electromagnetic 'noise' (random magnetic fields) during the exposure, it completely blocked these harmful effects. This suggests that certain types of electromagnetic interference might actually protect cells from radiation damage.
Yokus B, Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Cakir DU, Kizil M · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to power line frequency magnetic fields for 10 months and found DNA damage in their blood cells. The exposure caused oxidative damage that creates genetic mutations potentially leading to cancer, providing first direct evidence of cellular harm.