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 745 studies in Oxidative Stress

Effects of exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory, anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in male rats.

Karimi SA, Salehi I, Shykhi T, Zare S, Komaki A. · 2019

Seventy-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a sham exposure group, and ELF-EMF exposure groups at 1, 100, 500, and 2000 μT. After 60 days of exposure at 2 hours per day, researchers assessed anxiety-like behavior, spatial learning and memory, passive avoidance learning, and oxidative stress markers. Rats in the 100 and 2000 μT groups spent more time in the target zone during the spatial reference memory test. The researchers suggested that ELF-EMF exposure may improve memory retention but not acquisition, and may contribute to anxiety or oxidative stress.

Whole Body / General
Review
170 citations

Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health

Unknown authors · 2018

Repeated Wi-Fi studies show that Wi-Fi causes oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric effects including EEG changes, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload. Each of these effects are also caused by exposures to other microwave frequency EMFs, with each such effect being documented in from 10 to 16 reviews. The author states that voltage-gated calcium channel activation is the predominant mechanism of action for these EMF effects.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields inhibit human osteoclast formation and gene expression via osteoblasts

Unknown authors · 2018

Researchers tested PEMF (Physio-Stim®) on human bone marrow macrophages differentiated to osteoclasts. PEMF had striking inhibitory effects on osteoclast formation from both younger and older women. Gene expression changes were significantly greater in cells from older women. All identified genes were upregulated and were mesenchymal or osteoblastic genes including TGF-β pathway, extracellular matrix proteins, RANKL and osteoprotegerin. Researchers suggest PEMF inhibits osteoclast formation via action on osteoblasts and may be effective for bone mass maintenance in osteoporosis.

Oxidative StressNo Effects Found

Effects of 900-MHz electromagnetic fields exposure throughout middle/late adolescence on the kidney morphology and biochemistry of the female rat

Unknown authors · 2018

Researchers exposed female rats to a continuous 900-MHz electromagnetic field for one hour daily from postnatal day 35 to 59. Control, sham, and EMF groups were established, with sham rats receiving a pseudo-megahertz effect. All animals were euthanized on postnatal day 60 and kidney tissues were analyzed for histopathology and oxidative stress markers. Histopathological analysis showed no pathology in control or sham groups, but the EMF group exhibited hemorrhage in glomeruli, vacuolization and irregularity in tubular epithelium, glomerular degeneration and edema, Bowman capsule degeneration, medullary hemorrhage, disturbed nuclei, and cortical tubular edema. Total oxidant status and oxidative stress index values were significantly lower in both EMF and sham groups compared with controls.

Pathological Findings Observed in the Kidneys of Postnatal Male Rats Exposed to the 2100 MHz Electromagnetic Field

Unknown authors · 2018

They measured reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in kidney tissue and used caspase-3 immunohistochemistry to assess apoptosis. Deterioration was observed in the brush border in renal tubules of the EMF groups. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed a greater number of positively stained renal tubular epithelial cells in the EMF groups compared with the control group. In the EMF groups renal MDA levels increased and renal GSH levels decreased compared with the control group (p = 0.00 for both).

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Impact of Long-Term RF-EMF on Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Aging Brains of C57BL/6 Mice.

Jeong YJ et al. · 2018

The aim of the study was to observe the impact of long-term RF-EMF on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aging brains of C57BL/6 mice. Compared with young mice, aged mice showed significantly increased protein and lipid oxidative damage markers in the brain. Aged mice also had significantly elevated markers of DNA damage, apoptosis, astrocytes, and microglia. Long-term RF-EMF exposure did not change the levels of oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, astrocyte, or microglia markers in aged mouse brains. Long-term RF-EMF exposure also did not alter locomotor activity in aged mice.

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field reduces oxidative stress during the rehabilitation of post-acute stroke patients.

Cichoń N, Rzeźnicka P, Bijak M, Miller E, Miller S, Saluk J. · 2018

Researchers enrolled 57 post-stroke patients and assigned them to an ELF-EMF therapy group or a control group that received only kinesiotherapy. Oxidative stress was measured in plasma using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), thiol groups, and carbonyl groups. Rehabilitation progress was assessed with the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). All oxidative stress parameters were significantly reduced and clinical parameters significantly improved in the ELF-EMF group compared with the control group.

Measurement of the 100 MHz EMF radiation in vivo effects on zebrafish D. rerio embryonic development: A multidisciplinary study.

Piccinetti CC et al. · 2018

Researchers evaluated the biological effects of 100 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on zebrafish embryos using a multidisciplinary protocol. The 100 MHz EMF affected zebrafish embryonic development from 24 to 72 hours post-fertilization across all analyzed pathways. At 48 hours post-fertilization, reduced growth, increased oxidative stress gene transcription, apoptotic and autophagic processes, and modified cholesterol metabolism were detected. By 72 hours post-fertilization, embryos partially recovered from stress and reached hatching time comparable to controls.

Melatonin attenuates radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in germ cells of male Swiss albino mice.

Pandey N, Giri S. · 2018

Researchers exposed Swiss albino mice to RFR for 3 hours twice daily for 35 days and gave some mice melatonin at 5 mg/kg body weight per day. RFR-exposed mice showed extensive DNA damage, arrest in pre-meiotic spermatogenesis, low sperm count, and sperm head abnormalities. Biochemical assays revealed excess free radical generation and histological changes in testis and germ cells. Melatonin supplementation diminished or abolished these effects.

Radiofrequency radiation emitted from Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) causes impaired insulin secretion and increased oxidative stress in rat pancreatic islets.

Masoumi A, Karbalaei N, Mortazavi SMJ, Shabani M. · 2018

The Wi-Fi exposure used a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The Wi-Fi exposed group had significantly lower weight gain than controls and developed hyperglycemia. Plasma insulin levels and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic islets were significantly reduced, while pancreatic lipid peroxidation increased and GSH, SOD, and GPx activities decreased.

Exposure to radiation from single or combined radio frequencies provokes macrophage dysfunction in the RAW 264.7 cell line.

López-Furelos A et al. · 2018

Researchers exposed RAW 264.7 macrophage cells to single or combined radiofrequency signals at 900 and 2450 MHz for 4, 24, 48, or 72 hours in a GTEM chamber. They measured cell viability, nitric oxide production, HSP70 and TNF-α expression, and phagocytic activity. Phagocytic activity declined with longer exposure, while combined exposure raised HSP70 at 48 hours and significantly increased nitric oxide and TNF-α at 72 hours.

A histopathological and biochemical evaluation of oxidative injury in the sciatic nerves of male rats exposed to a continuous 900-megahertz electromagnetic field throughout all periods of adolescence.

Kerimoğlu G, Güney C, Ersöz Ş, Odacı E. · 2018

Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats aged 21 days were divided into control, sham, and EMF groups, and the EMF group was exposed to a 900-MHz field for one hour each day from postnatal day 21 to 59. Histopathological examination showed normal Schwann cells and axons in all groups, but marked thickening of the epineurium in the EMF-exposed rats. Biochemical analysis found higher MDA, SOD, and CAT levels in the EMF group versus control and sham, and the apoptotic index was significantly increased in the EMF group.

Evidence of oxidative stress after continuous exposure to Wi-Fi radiation in rat model.

Kamali K, Taravati A, Sayyadi S, Gharib FZ, Maftoon H. · 2018

Researchers exposed male Wister rats to 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi radiation continuously for 10 weeks. Total antioxidant capacity of plasma and activities of CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD decreased significantly in exposed rats. GST activity increased significantly in the exposed group. GSH and TBARS levels did not change significantly after exposure.

Long term exposure to cell phone frequencies (900 and 1800 MHz) induces apoptosis, mitochondrial oxidative stress and TRPV1 channel activation in the hippocampus and dorsal root ganglion of rats.

Ertilav K, Uslusoy F, Ataizi S, Nazıroğlu M. · 2018

Twenty-four adult rats were divided into control, 900 MHz, and 1800 MHz exposure groups. Each experimental group was exposed to electromagnetic radiation for 60 minutes per day, five days per week, for one year. Both frequencies increased TRPV1 currents, calcium influx, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, apoptosis, and caspase 3 and 9 activities in the hippocampus and dorsal root ganglion. The 1800 MHz exposure produced greater increases in these measures than the 900 MHz exposure.

Effect of low-level 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation on the rat sciatic nerve and the protective role of paricalcitol.

Comelekoglu U et al. · 2018

Researchers divided rats into four groups: control, paricalcitol only, RF exposure only, and RF plus paricalcitol. Rats in the RF groups were exposed to 1,800 MHz RF radiation for 1 hour per day for 4 weeks. RF exposure caused significant reduction in nerve signal amplitude, prolonged latency, increased malondialdehyde levels, increased catalase activity, and degeneration of myelinated nerve fibers. Paricalcitol administration partially ameliorated these neuropathic changes.

Exposure to mobile phone (900-1800 MHz) during pregnancy: tissue oxidative stress after childbirth

Bahreyni Toossi MH et al. · 2018

Pregnant Balb/C mice were exposed to mobile phone radiation (900–1800 MHz) for 2 hours per day over 20 days during pregnancy. Researchers measured malondialdehyde, total thiol groups, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in heart, liver, kidney, cerebellum, and hippocampus tissues of dams and offspring. MDA levels were significantly increased while TTG, SOD, and CAT were significantly decreased in the tissues of both dams and offspring.

Alternating magnetic field enhances cytotoxicity of Compound C

Akimoto T et al. · 2018

An AMF at 280 kHz and 250 Arms for 30 minutes significantly enhanced Compound C cytotoxicity and promoted apoptosis in human GB cell lines. The AMF also increased Compound C-induced cell-cycle arrest at the G2 phase and inhibited cell proliferation. The AMF increased Compound C-induced reactive oxygen species production. The AMF decreased ERK phosphorylation and suppressed protective autophagy induced by Compound C.

Impact of fluoride and a static magnetic field on the gene expression that is associated with the antioxidant defense system of human fibroblasts.

Kimsa-Dudek M et al. · 2018

Researchers evaluated how simultaneous exposure to fluoride and a static magnetic field from permanent magnets affects the expression of antioxidant defense genes in human fibroblasts. They used control fibroblasts and fluoride-treated fibroblasts exposed to a static magnetic field with moderate induction, analyzing gene expression with an oligonucleotide microarray. Fluoride ions caused oxidative stress in the cells. Exposure to a static magnetic field with moderate induction normalized the expression of five antioxidant defense genes (SOD1, PLK3, CLN8, XPA, HAO1) that were altered by fluoride.

Electromagnetic radiation 2450 MHz exposure causes cognition deficit with mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in rats.

Gupta SK, Mesharam MK, Krishnamurthy S. · 2018

Male rats were exposed to EMR (900, 1800 and 2450 MHz) every day for 1 h for 28 consecutive days. Animals exposed to EMR-2450 MHz exhibited significant cognitive deficits. EMR-2450 MHz caused loss of mitochondrial function and integrity, an increase in amyloid beta expression. There was release of cytochrome-c and activation of apoptotic factors such as caspase-9 and -3 in the hippocampus. Further, there was decrease in levels of acetylcholine, and increase in activity of acetyl cholinesterase, indicating impairment of cholinergic system.

Oxidative and mutagenic effects of low intensity GSM 1800 MHz microwave radiation.

Yakymenko I et al. · 2018

Researchers used developing quail embryos to assess the oxidative and mutagenic effects of GSM 1800 MHz microwave radiation from a commercial smartphone. The embryos were exposed in ovo to 0.32 µW/cm2, discontinuously, for 5 days before and 14 days through the incubation period. Exposure resulted in a 2-fold increase in superoxide generation rate, an 85% increase in nitrogen oxide generation rate, and up to twice increased levels of 8-oxo-dG in cells of 1-day old chicks from the exposed embryos. The exposure also resulted in a significant, almost twice, increase of embryo mortality.

The Protective Effect of Autophagy on DNA Damage in Mouse Spermatocyte-Derived Cells Exposed to 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.

Li R et al. · 2018

Mouse spermatocyte-derived cells (GC-2) were exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields at 4 W/kg for 24 hours. The exposure induced both autophagy and DNA damage in GC-2 cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species. When autophagy was blocked by knocking down AMPKα, DNA damage increased, while overexpressing AMPKα promoted autophagy and reduced DNA damage.

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