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 152 studies in Sleep & Circadian Rhythm

Sleep & Circadian RhythmNo Effects Found

GSM modulated radiofrequency radiation does not affect 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion of rats.

Bakos J, Kubinyi G, Sinay H, Thuroczy G. · 2003

Researchers studied the effect of 900 and 1800 MHz GSM-like radiofrequency radiation on urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in adult male Wistar rats. Seventy-two rats were used in six independent experiments with exposures in a GTEM cell at power densities of 100 μW/cm² at 900 MHz and 20 μW/cm² at 1800 MHz. Animals were exposed for 2 hours daily between 8:00 AM and noon for 14 days with 218 Hz GSM modulation. No statistically significant changes in 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion were found at either frequency.

Survey study of people living in the vicinity of cellular phone base stations.

Santini R, Santini P, Le Ruz P, Danze JM, Seigne M · 2003

Researchers conducted a questionnaire survey of 530 people living or not in proximity to cellular phone base stations. They found that nausea, loss of appetite, and visual disturbances were reported up to 10 m, irritability, depressive tendencies, and lowered libido up to 100 m, and headaches, sleep disturbances, and discomfort up to 200 m. Fatigue was the only symptom significantly more frequent in the 200-300 m zone compared with those living farther away or not exposed. Women reported seven of the eighteen symptoms significantly more often than men at distances up to 300 m. Significant differences were also observed by age and by location relative to antennas and other electromagnetic factors.

Protective effect of melatonin and vitamin E against prooxidative action of iron ions and static magnetic field

Jajte J, Zmyślony M, Rajkowska E. · 2003

Researchers examined whether melatonin and vitamin E could protect rat blood lymphocytes from lipid peroxidation caused by iron ions and a 7 mT static magnetic field in vitro. Simultaneous exposure to the 7 mT static magnetic field and iron ions produced a significant increase in lipid peroxidation end-products compared with control samples and those exposed to the field alone. When cells were pre-treated with melatonin or vitamin E before that same exposure, lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced, and melatonin was less effective than vitamin E under these conditions.

The effect of low level radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on the excretion rates of stress hormones in operators during 24-hour shifts.

Vangelova K, Israel M, Mihaylov S. · 2002

Researchers studied 12 male satellite station operators during 24-hour shifts and compared them with 12 unexposed controls. Exposure was low-level with specific absorption of 0.1127 J.kg-1. Exposed operators had significantly increased 24-hour excretion of 11-OCS and disrupted circadian rhythm, including increased mesor, decreased amplitude, and shifted acrophase. Catecholamine excretion rates also changed significantly with greater variability.

Study of the health of people living in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations: I. Influence of distance and sex.

Santini R, Santini P, Danze JM, Le Ruz P, Seigne M. · 2002

Researchers conducted a questionnaire survey of 530 people, including 270 men and 260 women, living near or far from cellular phone base stations to assess 18 non-specific health symptoms. Complaint frequencies increased significantly (p < 0.05) for people living within 300 meters for tiredness, within 200 meters for headache, sleep disturbance, and discomfort, and within 100 meters for irritability, depression, loss of memory, dizziness, and libido decrease compared to those living beyond 300 meters or not exposed. Women reported headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, depression, discomfort, and visual perturbations significantly more often than men (p < 0.05).

Melatonin metabolite excretion among cellular telephone users.

Burch JB et al. · 2002

Researchers evaluated cellular telephone use and melatonin metabolite excretion in two groups of male electric utility workers. Participants collected urine samples and recorded telephone use over three workdays while personal magnetic field and light exposures were measured. In Study 1, no change in 6-OHMS excretion was observed with daily cellular telephone use over 25 minutes.

Symptoms & Sensitivity
Measurement survey

Symptoms experienced by users of digital cellular phones: a pilot study in a French engineering school.

Santini R et al. · 2001

Researchers conducted a questionnaire survey of 161 students and workers at a French engineering school about symptoms during digital cellular phone use. Users of 1800-MHz phones reported significantly more concentration difficulties than users of 900-MHz phones. Women using cellular phones complained of sleep disturbance significantly more often than men. Using both cellular phones and VDT significantly increased concentration difficulties. Longer daily calling duration and more calls per day were associated with more ear discomfort, warmth, and pricking.

Toxicologic study of electromagnetic radiation emitted by television and video display screens and cellular telephones on chickens and mice.

Bastide M, Youbibier-Simoa BJ, Lebecq JC, Giaimis J. · 2001

Researchers investigated continuous exposure of chick embryos and young chickens to EMFs from video display units and GSM cell phone radiation, including radiation attenuated by copper gauze. Permanent exposure to VDU EMFs was associated with significantly increased fetal loss (47-68%) and markedly depressed levels of circulating specific antibodies (lgG), corticosterone and melatonin. Under chronic exposure, GSM cell phone radiation was harmful to chick embryos, stressful for healthy mice, and synergistic with cancer by depleting stress hormones in mice. The same pathological results occurred after substantial reduction of microwaves by copper gauze attenuation.

Protective effect of melatonin against in vitro iron ions and 7 mT 50 Hz magnetic field-induced DNA damage in rat lymphocytes.

Jajte J, Zmyślony M, Palus J, Dziubałtowska E, Rajkowska E. · 2001

Researchers used the alkaline comet assay to assess DNA damage in rat peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed in vitro to iron ions and a 50 Hz magnetic field. Cell samples were incubated for 3 hours in Helmholtz coils at 7 mT 50 Hz, and some were treated with ferrous chloride at 10 μg/ml during that exposure. A significant increase in cells with DNA damage was found only after simultaneous exposure to ferrous chloride and the 7 mT 50 Hz magnetic field, compared to control samples or those incubated with ferrous chloride alone. When cells were treated with melatonin before that combined exposure, the number of damaged cells was significantly reduced, with the reduction reaching about 50% at 0.5 mM and about 100% at 1.0 mM.

Evidence of Oxidative Stress in American Kestrels Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields

Fernie KJ, Bird DM. · 2001

Researchers investigated whether exposure to magnetic and electric fields similar to those from power lines induces an immune response and alters oxidative stress levels in American kestrels. Captive male kestrels were bred under control or EMF conditions equivalent to those experienced by wild kestrels. Short-term EMF exposure suppressed plasma total proteins, hematocrits, and carotenoids in the first half of the breeding season, and also suppressed erythrocyte cells and lymphocyte proportions while elevating granulosa proportions at the end of the breeding season. Long-term EMF exposure may be linked to higher levels of oxidative stress through EMF exposure only, and also suppressed hematocrits in the first half of the reproductive period.

Sleep & Circadian RhythmNo Effects Found

Human sleep EEG under the influence of pulsed radio frequency electromagnetic fields. results from polysomnographies using submaximal high power flux densities.

Wagner P et al. · 2000

Researchers aimed to investigate human sleep EEG under pulsed radio frequency electromagnetic fields using polysomnographies with submaximal high power flux densities. They applied a submaximal power flux density of 50 W/m(2). All-night polysomnographies were recorded from 20 healthy male subjects with and without exposure to a circularly polarized EMF at 900 MHz pulsed at 217 Hz with 577 microsecond pulse duration. The results showed no significant effect of the field application on conventional sleep parameters or sleep EEG power spectra.

Inhibitory effects of low doses of melatonin on induction of preneoplastic liver lesions in a medium-term liver bioassay in F344 rats: relation to the influence of electromagnetic near field exposure.

Imaida K et al. · 2000

Researchers gave six-week-old male F344 rats a single dose of diethylnitrosamine and then treated them with melatonin at 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 ppm in drinking water for six weeks. Melatonin was administered only during the night to maintain circadian rhythm. At week 3, rats underwent partial hepatectomy, and at week 8 they were sacrificed and serum hormone levels were measured. Serum melatonin was elevated while luteinizing hormone and testosterone were reduced. The number and area of GST-P-positive liver foci decreased in melatonin-treated groups, significantly for number at 10 ppm.

Exposure to pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field during waking affects human sleep EEG.

Huber R et al. · 2000

Researchers exposed healthy young male subjects for 30 minutes to EMF at 900 MHz and a spatial peak specific absorption rate of 1 W/kg during the waking period before sleep. Compared with a sham exposure control condition, EEG spectral power during non-rapid eye movement sleep was increased, with the maximum rise in the 9.75-11.25 Hz and 12.5-13.25 Hz bands during the initial part of sleep. The researchers concluded that the changes of brain function induced by pulsed high-frequency EMF outlast the exposure period.

Evaluation in humans of the effects of radiocellular telephones on the circadian patterns of melatonin secretion, a chronobiological rhythm marker.

de Seze R, Ayoub J, Peray P, Miro L, Touitou Y · 1999

Researchers evaluated maximum serum melatonin concentration, time of maximum, and area under the curve of the hormone profile. Thirty-eight men aged 20 to 32 years were exposed to GSM 900 or DCS 1800 phones for 2 hr/day, 5 days/wk, for 4 wk at maximum power. Blood samples were collected hourly during the night and every 3 hr in the daytime across four sessions at 15-day intervals. The melatonin circadian profile was not disrupted by the exposure.

Pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic field affects human sleep and sleep electroencephalogram.

Borbely et al. · 1999

Researchers exposed healthy young subjects during an entire night-time sleep episode to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field at a maximum specific absorption rate of 1 W/kg. The exposure schedule consisted of alternating 15-min on-15-min off intervals. Compared with a control night with sham exposure, the amount of waking after sleep onset was reduced from 18 to 12 min, and EEG spectral power in non-rapid eye movement sleep was increased. The researchers concluded that pulsed high-frequency EMF in the range of radiotelephones may promote sleep and modify the sleep EEG.

Sleep & Circadian RhythmNo Effects Found163 citations

Human sleep under the influence of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: a polysomnographic study using standardized conditions.

Wagner, P, Roschke, J, Mann, K, Hiller, W, Frank, C · 1998

Researchers recorded all-night polysomnographies of 24 healthy male subjects with and without exposure to a circularly polarized 900 MHz pulsed electromagnetic field at 0.2 W/m². Suppression of REM sleep and a sleep-inducing effect under field exposure did not reach statistical significance, so previous results indicating alterations of these sleep parameters could not be replicated. Spectral power analysis also did not reveal any alterations of the EEG rhythms during EMF exposure.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Effects of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields on the neuroendocrine system

Mann et al. · 1998

Researchers exposed healthy humans to a 900 MHz pulsed electromagnetic field (217 Hz, 0.02 mW/cm²) and measured nocturnal hormone profiles of growth hormone, cortisol, luteinizing hormone, and melatonin under polysomnographic control. Cortisol showed a slight, transient elevation that persisted for one hour after exposure onset. No significant changes were found for growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, or melatonin, and sleep EEG showed no significant alterations, though there was a trend toward REM suppression.

CardiovascularNo Effects Found

No effects of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields on heart rate variability during human sleep

Mann, K, Roschke, J, Connemann, B, Beta, H · 1998

The influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by digital mobile radio telephones on heart rate during sleep in healthy humans was investigated. For most parameters, significant differences between different sleep stages were found. Under the given experimental conditions, autonomic control of heart rate was not affected by weak-pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields.

Sleep & Circadian RhythmNo Effects Found

No short-term effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on the mammalian pineal gland.

Vollrath L, Spessert R, Kratzsch T, Keiner M, Hollmann H · 1997

Researchers exposed male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and Djungarian hamsters to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields at 0.1 to 0.6 mW/cm2, continuous or pulsed at 217 Hz, for 15 min to 6 h. At day or night had no notable short-term effect on pineal melatonin synthesis in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and Djungarian hamsters. Pineal synaptic ribbon profile numbers (studied in rats only) were likewise not affected The 900 MHz electromagnetic fields, unpulsed or pulsed at 217 Hz, as applied in the present study, have no short-term effect on the mammalian pineal gland.

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