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 274 studies in Immune System

Are people living next to mobile phone base stations more strained? Relationship of health concerns, self-estimated distance to base station, and psychological parameters.

Augner C, Hacker GW. · 2009

Austrian researchers studied 57 people who believed they lived close to cell phone towers to see if proximity affected their stress levels. Those who reported living within 100 meters of base stations showed significantly higher levels of stress hormones in their saliva and reported more anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and physical symptoms. The findings suggest that people near cell towers experience measurable biological stress, though the study couldn't determine whether this was due to actual electromagnetic field exposure or other factors.

Results of a long-term low-level microwave exposure of rats.

Adang D, Remacle C, Vorst AV. · 2009

Belgian researchers exposed rats to 970-MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for 2 hours daily over 21 months and measured changes in blood cells and mortality. They found significant increases in white blood cells and changes in immune cell types, plus a striking finding: exposed rats had nearly twice the mortality rate of unexposed rats by the end of the study. This suggests that chronic low-level microwave exposure may compromise immune function and overall health over time.

[Radiation protection and possible mechanisms for low intensity microwave.]

Xu Q, Tong J, Jin ZD, Lu MX, DU HB, Cao Y. · 2009

Researchers exposed mice to low-intensity microwave radiation (900 MHz at 120 microwatts per square centimeter) for 14 days, then subjected them to harmful gamma radiation. Surprisingly, mice that received both exposures showed less tissue damage and faster recovery than those exposed to gamma radiation alone. The microwave exposure appeared to boost the mice's natural antioxidant defenses and reduce cell death in bone marrow and spleen tissue.

[Antagonistic effect of microwave on hematopoietic damage of mice induced by gamma-ray irradiation.]

Cao Y, Xu Q, Lu MX, Jin ZD, DU HB, Li JX, Nie JH, Tong J. · 2009

Chinese researchers exposed mice to low-level 900 MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used by cell phones) before subjecting them to high-dose gamma radiation that typically damages blood-forming cells. They found that the microwave pre-exposure actually protected the mice, improving their survival rates and helping maintain healthy blood cell production. This suggests that certain levels of microwave radiation might stimulate protective biological responses rather than cause harm.

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.

Immune SystemNo Effects Found

No effect of mobile phone-like RF exposure on patients with atopic dermatitis.

Johansson A et al. · 2008

Swedish researchers exposed 15 people with atopic dermatitis (a chronic skin condition causing inflammation and itching) to 30 minutes of cell phone-like radiofrequency radiation at 1 W/kg and measured blood markers of inflammation and stress. They found no changes in any of the measured substances compared to sham exposure, suggesting that RF exposure at typical cell phone levels does not trigger inflammatory responses in people with this sensitive skin condition.

Immune SystemNo Effects Found

Molecular responses of Jurkat T-cells to 1763 MHz radiofrequency radiation.

Huang TQ, Lee MS, Oh E, Zhang BT, Seo JS, Park WY. · 2008

Researchers exposed immune system T-cells to cell phone radiation at 1763 MHz for 24 hours to see if it caused cellular damage or changes in gene activity. They found no significant effects on cell growth, DNA damage, or major gene expression changes, though two immune-related genes showed minor decreases. This suggests that 24-hour exposure to this specific frequency at high power levels did not cause detectable harm to these immune cells.

Cardiovascular122 citations

Effects of low-level radio-frequency (3kHz to 300GHz) energy on human cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and other systems: A review of the recent literature.

Jauchem JR. · 2008

This comprehensive review examined research from 1998 to 2006 on how radio frequency energy (the type emitted by cell phones and wireless devices) affects human cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune systems. The researchers analyzed dozens of studies and found mostly weak or inconsistent evidence of health effects, with most studies showing no significant impacts. However, some studies did report cardiovascular changes like altered heart rate patterns and immune system changes in workers exposed to radar and radio transmissions.

Assessment of biological changes of continuous whole body exposure to static magnetic field and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in mice.

Hashish AH, El-Missiry MA, Abdelkader HI, Abou-Saleh RH. · 2008

Researchers exposed mice to magnetic fields and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the type from power lines) for 30 days to study health effects. The exposed mice lost weight and showed signs of liver stress, including increased oxidative damage (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and changes in blood chemistry. The study suggests that prolonged exposure to these common electromagnetic fields may disrupt the body's ability to protect itself from cellular damage.

[Surface markers and functions of human dendritic cells exposed to mobile phone 1800 MHz electromagnetic fields.]

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.

Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human leukocytes after in vitro exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS radiofrequency field.

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.

Effect of a chronic GSM 900MHz exposure on glia in the rat brain.

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.

Assessment of biological changes of continuous whole body exposure to static magnetic field and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in mice.

Hashish AH, El-Missiry MA, Abdelkader HI, Abou-Saleh RH · 2008

Researchers exposed mice to static magnetic fields and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (like those from power lines) continuously for 30 days to study health effects. The exposed mice lost weight, showed signs of liver stress including increased oxidative damage, and had significant changes in their blood cells and immune system markers. The study demonstrates that prolonged exposure to these common electromagnetic fields can disrupt normal body functions through oxidative stress.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Lymphoma development in mice chronically exposed to UMTS-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

Sommer AM, Bitz AK, Streckert J, Hansen VW, Lerchl A · 2007

German researchers exposed 320 mice to 3G (UMTS) cell phone signals 24 hours a day for their entire lives to see if the radiation would increase lymphoma rates. The mice were genetically predisposed to develop this blood cancer, making them ideal test subjects. After monitoring the animals for 43 weeks, researchers found no difference in cancer rates, survival times, or disease severity between exposed and unexposed groups.

Cellular EffectsNo Effects Found

Evaluating the biological effects of intermittent 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency fields in a series of human-derived cell lines.

Chauhan V et al. · 2007

Canadian government researchers exposed three types of human cells to 1.9 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to cell phone signals) for 6 hours at power levels up to 10 W/kg. They measured multiple indicators of cellular stress including cell death, DNA damage, immune responses, and cell cycle disruption. The study found no detectable biological effects from the RF exposure at any power level tested.

Evaluating the combinative effects on human lymphocyte DNA damage induced by ultraviolet ray C plus 1.8GHz microwaves using comet assay in vitro.

Baohong W et al. · 2007

Chinese researchers exposed human immune cells to 1.8 GHz microwave radiation and UV light. Microwaves alone caused no DNA damage, but when combined with UV, they disrupted normal DNA repair - initially reducing damage then increasing it hours later, suggesting unpredictable interference with cellular repair mechanisms.

Alteration of Nitric Oxide Production in Rats Exposed to a Prolonged, Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field

Akdag MZ, Bilgin MH, Dasdag S, Tumer C · 2007

Researchers exposed rats to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (the type produced by power lines and household wiring) for 2 hours daily over 10 months. They found that this exposure significantly reduced nitric oxide levels in the blood, a molecule essential for healthy blood vessel function and immune response. The magnetic field strengths tested were within current safety limits set by international guidelines.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Cytogenetic Studies in Human Blood Lymphocytes Exposed In Vitro to 2.45 GHz or 8.2 GHz Radiofrequency Radiation.

Vijayalaxmi · 2006

Researchers exposed human blood cells to radiofrequency radiation at 2.45 GHz and 8.2 GHz (frequencies used in WiFi and microwave ovens) for 2 hours to see if it caused genetic damage. They found no significant increase in chromosomal damage or DNA breaks compared to unexposed cells. This suggests that short-term RF exposure at these power levels may not directly damage genetic material in blood cells.

Immune SystemNo Effects Found

In vitro effects of GSM modulated radiofrequency fields on human immune cells.

Tuschl H, Novak W, Molla-Djafari H. · 2006

Researchers exposed human immune cells to cell phone radiation at 1950 MHz for 8 hours to see if it affected immune function. They tested multiple immune system markers including cytokine production (chemical messengers that coordinate immune responses) and gene activity. The study found no statistically significant effects on any immune parameters tested.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Exposure of Cultured Astroglial and Microglial Brain Cells to 900 MHz Microwave Radiation.

Thorlin et al. · 2006

Swedish researchers exposed brain glial cells (support cells that protect neurons) to 900 MHz radiation at various power levels for up to 24 hours to see if it would trigger inflammatory responses or cellular damage. They found no significant effects on inflammatory markers, cellular proteins, or cell structure at any exposure level tested. The study suggests that short-term exposure to 900 MHz radiation at these levels does not cause detectable damage to these important brain cells in laboratory conditions.

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