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 1,982 studies with bioeffects seen from BioInitiative Report

Neuronal Cellular Responses to Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure: Implications Regarding Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration.

Reale M et al. · 2014

Researchers evaluated the effects of an electromagnetic wave at a magnetic field intensity of 1 mT and a frequency of 50-Hz on human SH-SY5Y cells, a well-characterized immortalized neuronal cell model. ELF-EMF exposure elevated the expression of NOS and O2−, which were countered by compensatory changes in antioxidant catalase activity and enzymatic kinetic parameters related to CYP-450 and CAT activity. Cytokine gene expression was additionally evaluated and found rapidly modified by ELF-EMF exposure. When co-exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress, ELF-EMF proved not as well counteracted, resulting in a decline in CAT activity and a rise in O2− levels.

Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) Reduces Oxidative Stress in the Brain of Gerbils Submitted to Global Cerebral Ischemia.

Rauš Balind S, Selaković V, Radenović L, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2014

Researchers studied whether an extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF, 50 Hz, 0.5 mT) affects oxidative stress in the brains of gerbils submitted to 10-min global cerebral ischemia. After occlusion of both carotid arteries, 3-month-old gerbils were continuously exposed to ELF-MF for 7 days, and oxidative stress markers were measured in the forebrain cortex, striatum and hippocampus. Ischemic gerbils exposed to ELF-MF showed increased oxidative stress on the 7th day after reperfusion, but to a lesser extent than ischemic or ELF-MF-exposed animals alone, and by the 14th day their oxidative stress parameters were mostly at control levels. The results indicate a beneficial effect of ELF-MF (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) in the model of global cerebral ischemia.

Comparisons of Responses by Planarian to Micromolar to Attomolar Dosages of Morphine or Naloxone and/or Weak Pulsed Magnetic Fields: Revealing Receptor Subtype Affinities and Nonspecific Effects.

Murugan NJ, Persinger MA. · 2014

Exposure to the patterned magnetic field reduced planarian activity by about 50%, a magnitude similar to the non-specific effects of morphine and naloxone across most dosages. A specific dosage of 100 nM produced an additional marked reduction in activity for planaria exposed to either morphine or naloxone, while only 1 pM of morphine produced this effect.

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields induce oxidative stress in rat brain.

Manikonda PK et al. · 2014

Researchers exposed male Wistar rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz, at intensities of 50 and 100 µT, for 90 days continuously. The hippocampal, cerebellar and cortical regions of the brain were analyzed for reactive oxygen species, markers of oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzymes. Compared with control rats, exposed rats showed oxidative stress and altered glutathione levels in a dose-dependent manner across all brain regions.

Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure on Stress-Related Behaviors and Stress Hormones in Male Wistar Rats.

Mahdavi SM, Sahraei H, Yaghmaei P, Tavakoli H. · 2014

Researchers studied the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure at 1 and 5 Hz on behavioral, hormonal, and metabolic changes in male Wistar rats. Plasma ACTH concentration increased in both frequency groups, while noradrenaline concentration showed an overall reduction.

Pulsed electromagnetic field enhances brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression through L-type voltage-gated calcium channel- and Erk-dependent signaling pathways in neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Li Y, Yan X, Liu J, Li L, Hu X, Sun H, Tian J. · 2014

Researchers examined the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) exposure on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons from neonatal rats. Exposure to 50 Hz and 1 mT PEMF for 2 hours increased both intracellular free calcium levels and Bdnf mRNA expression. The increase in calcium was found to come from influx through L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, while calcium mobilization from internal stores was not involved. Blocking the Erk signaling pathway strongly inhibited PEMF-related Erk1/2 activation and BDNF expression, indicating that Erk activation was required for PEMF-induced BDNF upregulation.

The extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure differently affects the AMPAR and NMDAR subunit expressions in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and prefrontal cortex without effects on the rat spatial learning and memory.

Li C, Xie M, Luo F, He C, Wang J, Tan G, Hu Z. · 2014

Researchers investigated the effects of 14 and 28 days of exposure to a 50 Hz, 0.5 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field on glutamate receptor subunit expressions and spatial learning and memory in rats. The exposure changed NMDAR and AMPAR subunit levels in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and prefrontal cortex in ways that differed by brain region and duration. Despite these receptor changes, neither 14 nor 28 days of exposure affected the rats' spatial reference memory as assessed by water maze.

Effects of exposure to an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on hippocampal long-term potentiation in rat.

Komaki A, Khalili A, Salehi I, Shahidi S, Sarihi A. · 2014

Researchers divided twenty-nine adult male Wistar rats into three groups: an ELF-EMF exposed group, a sham group, and a control group. The exposed rats received a 50 Hz, 100 micro Tesla magnetic field for 90 consecutive days at 2 hours per day. Prolonged exposure to ELF-EMFs increased LTP induction, and there was a significant difference in the slope of EPSP and amplitude of PS between the ELF-EMF group and other groups. The researchers' data suggest that exposure to ELF-EMFs produces a marked change in the synaptic plasticity generated in synapses of the PP-DG.

Effects of extremely low-frequency electric fields at different intensities and exposure durations on mismatch negativity.

Kantar Gok D et al. · 2014

Researchers used ninety male rats, aged 3 months, to investigate how different intensities and durations of extremely low-frequency electric fields affected brain responses and oxidative damage. Rats were exposed to 12-kV/m and 18-kV/m electric fields for 2 or 4 weeks, and mismatch negativity (MMN) responses were recorded in anesthetized rats using electrodes placed on the dura. MMN amplitude was significantly decreased in the E18-4 group compared with the C4 group, and 4-HNE was increased in all experimental groups compared with the control group. The researchers concluded that the electric field decreased MMN amplitudes, possibly induced by lipid peroxidation.

Pharmacological analysis of response latency in the hot plate test following whole-body static magnetic field-exposure in the snail Helix pomatia

Hernádi L, László JF. · 2014

Researchers studied how a single, 30-minute, whole-body static magnetic field exposure at 147±3 mT affected pain response latency in the snail Helix pomatia, using the hot plate test. Compared to sham-exposure, the static magnetic field caused significant differences in response latency of up to 47.1% (p < 0.001). The study concluded that static magnetic field exposure mediates peripheral thermal nociceptive threshold by affecting the serotonin as well as the opioid system.

An evaluation of genotoxicity in human neuronal-type cells subjected to oxidative stress under an extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic field.

Giorgi G et al. · 2014

Researchers investigated whether pulsed magnetic field exposure could interfere with DNA damage and repair in human neuroblastoma BE(2)C cells under oxidative stress. Cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide and exposed to a pulsed magnetic field at 1 mT and 50 Hz, and DNA double strand breaks were tracked using gamma-H2AX foci formation at 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment. The results suggest that pulsed magnetic field exposure does not interfere with genotoxicity and cytotoxicity induced by oxidative stress.

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes cognitive impairment associated with alteration of the glutamate level, MAPK pathway activation and decreased CREB phosphorylation in mice hippocampus: reversal by procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod

Duan Y, Wang Z, Zhang H, He Y, Fan R, Cheng Y, Sun G, Sun X. · 2014

Researchers studied whether exposure to a 50 Hz, 8 mT extremely low frequency electromagnetic field for 28 days altered glutamate release in mice hippocampus and whether treatment with lotus seedpod procyanidins (LSPCs) could normalize those changes. Exposure increased glutamate, GABA, NMDA receptor 2B levels, and intracellular calcium concentration in the hippocampus, while decreasing ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation. Oral administration of LSPCs, especially at 60 and 90 mg per kilogram, markedly improved expressions of p-CREB, p-ERK1/2, and p-JNK1/2, and was accompanied by decreased levels of glutamate, GABA, intracellular calcium, and NR2B.

Extremely low frequency magnetic field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) modifies fitness components and locomotor activity of Drosophila subobscura.

Dimitrijević D, Savić T, Anđelković M, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2014

Researchers exposed Drosophila subobscura at different developmental stages to an extremely low frequency magnetic field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) for 48 hours. The magnetic field shortened developmental time and increased viability, while sex ratio was unaffected. Regardless of which developmental stage was exposed, the magnetic field significantly decreased locomotor activity in adult flies. When just-eclosed adults were exposed, the observed reduction in locomotor activity lasted longer than in other exposure groups.

Autism-relevant social abnormalities in mice exposed perinatally to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

Alsaeed I et al. · 2014

Researchers examined the effects of perinatal exposure to ELF EMF on autism-relevant behavioral parameters in male BALB/C mice. Exposed mice lacked normal sociability and preference for social novelty, and also showed decreased exploratory activity. The researchers concluded that the results are supportive of the hypothesis of a causal link between exposure to ELF EMF and ASD, but recommended replications with further tests.

The effects of mobile phones on apoptosis in cerebral tissue: an experimental study on rats

Yilmaz A et al. · 2014

Researchers exposed rats to electromagnetic waves from mobile phones at frequencies between 1900 and 2100 MHz for a four-week period to study effects on apoptosis-related proteins in brain tissue. Immunohistopathological examinations showed that the study group had more p53 and Bcl-2 positive stained cells, and they were stained denser, with statistically significant differences between the study and control groups (p < 0.003). The researchers concluded that electromagnetic waves from mobile phones may have an effect on apoptosis.

The relationship between NMDA receptors and microwave-induced learning and memory impairment: A long-term observation on Wistar rats.

Wang H et al. · 2014

Eighty Wistar rats were exposed to a 2.856 GHz pulsed microwave source at power densities of 0 mW/cm2 and 50 mW/cm2 for 6 minutes, and then observed at multiple time points up to 18 months after exposure. The microwave-exposed rats showed consistent deficiencies in spatial learning and memory. The level of amino acid neurotransmitters decreased after microwave radiation, and the ratio of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid significantly decreased at 6 months. The hippocampus showed varying degrees of degeneration of neurons, and NR1 and NR2B expression showed a significant decrease, especially NR2B expression.

Nonthermal Effects of Lifelong High-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure on Social Memory Performance in Rats.

Schneider J, Stangassinger M · 2014

Researchers exposed male and female rats continuously to either 900-MHz GSM or 1.966-GHz UMTS electromagnetic fields at 0.4 W/kg. Memory was assessed using a social discrimination procedure, with differences in sniffing duration to familiar and novel juvenile rats used as the measure. EMF-exposed females showed no differences in sniffing duration compared with controls, but sniffing durations of EMF-exposed males at 3 months of age were significantly affected. At 6 months of age, GSM-exposed male adults showed a memory performance deficit, but UMTS-exposed males did not.

The in vivo effects of low-intensity radiofrequency fields on the motor activity of protozoa

Sarapultseva EI, Igolkina JV, Tikhonov VN, Dubrova YE · 2014

Researchers exposed the ciliate Spirostomum ambiguum to 1 GHz and 10 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields at power flux densities ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 W/m2 for periods from 0.05 to 10 hours. Exposure to 0.1 W/m2 of either 1 or 10 GHz radiofrequency fields resulted in a significant decrease in the motility of the ciliates. The motility of unexposed offspring of ciliates that had been irradiated with 0.1 W/m2 of 10 GHz radiofrequency fields remained significantly compromised across at least 10 to 15 generations.

Maternal mobile phone exposure alters intrinsic electrophysiological properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat offspring

Razavinasab M, Moazzami K, Shabani M · 2014

Researchers exposed pregnant Wistar rats to 900 MHz pulsed-EMF irradiation for 6 hours per day during gestation, then tested the offspring using behavioral, histological, and electrophysiological methods. Mobile phone exposure was associated with a decrease in the number of action potentials fired and an increase in the amplitude of afterhyperpolarization in exposed offspring compared with controls. Phone exposure significantly altered learning acquisition and memory retention in both male and female offspring rats compared with control rats. Light microscopy of brain sections showed normal morphology in both control and mobile phone-exposed rats.

Effects of nano-selenium on cognition performance of mice exposed in 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields

Qin F, Yuan H, Nie J, Cao Y, Tong J · 2014

Researchers exposed male mice to 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields at 208 microW/cm2 for 0, 30, or 120 minutes per day for 30 days, while some groups also received nano-selenium by intra-gastric injection. Significant impairments in learning and memory were observed in the RF 120 min group, along with reduced acetylcholine levels and antioxidant enzyme activity and increased GABA, glutamate, and MDA in the brain. Nano-selenium supplementation decreased GABA, glutamate, and MDA levels and increased acetylcholine levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in the exposed mice.

Reduction of Phosphorylated Synapsin I (Ser-553) Leads to Spatial Memory Impairment by Attenuating GABA Release after Microwave Exposure in Wistar Rats

Qiao S et al. · 2014

Researchers exposed Wistar rats, rat hippocampal synaptosomes, and PC12 cells to microwave radiation for 5 minutes at a mean power density of 30 mW/cm2. Spatial learning and memory in rats was assessed using the Morris Water Maze navigation task, and there was a decrease in spatial memory performance after microwave exposure. The expression of phosphorylated synapsin I (ser-553) was decreased at 3 days post-exposure and elevated at later time points, while GABA release from synaptosomes was attenuated. Both microwave exposure and synapsin I silencing reduced GABA release, and the greatest reduction was found when both were combined, indicating a synergetic effect.

Does Exposure to a Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Modify Thermal Preference in Juvenile Rats?

Pelletier A et al. · 2014

Researchers recorded thermal preference and sleep in 18 young male Wistar rats, with nine exposed to a low-intensity RF-EMF at 900 MHz and nine serving as non-exposed controls. During the light period, exposed rats preferred to sleep at an air temperature of 31°C while controls preferred 28°C. During the dark period, no significant differences between groups were found.

Evaluation of oxidant stress and antioxidant defense in discrete brain regions of rats exposed to 900 MHz radiation.

Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Kedage V, Nalini K, Nayak S, Bhat PG · 2014

Researchers studied the effects of 900 MHz radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation on oxidant stress and antioxidant defense in discrete brain regions of adolescent rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats aged 6 to 8 weeks were divided into a control group, a sham group, and an RF-EMR-exposed group, with 12 animals in each group. The exposed group received 900 MHz RF-EMR at a peak power density of 146.60 µW/cm2 for one hour per day for four weeks from an activated GSM mobile phone. Elevated TBARS levels were found in all brain regions studied, and altered behavioral performances were found in RF-EMR-exposed rats.

Immunohistochemical localization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the superior olivary complex of mice after radiofrequency exposure

Maskey D, Kim MJ · 2014

Researchers applied radiofrequency at a specific absorption rate of 1.6 W/kg or 0 W/kg to mice to study the distribution of BDNF and GDNF in the nuclei of the superior olivary complex. In the exposed group, significant reductions in BDNF immunoreactivity were noted in the lateral superior olive, medial superior olive, superior paraolivary nucleus, and medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. GDNF immunoreactivity was also significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in all superior olivary complex nuclei of the exposed group. The researchers suggested that the decrease in these neurotrophic factors in the superior olivary complex suggests a detrimental effect of RF exposure in the auditory nuclei.

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