Browse 3,138 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from the BioInitiative Report database.
Showing 1,359 studies (Human Studies)
Kawai H, Nagaoka T, Watanabe S, Saito K, Takahashi M, Ito K. · 2010
Scientists used computer models to study how much electromagnetic radiation developing embryos absorb from radio frequencies. They found embryos absorbed up to 0.08 watts per kilogram when exposed to current safety guideline levels, helping researchers understand potential effects from everyday wireless devices.
Joseph W, Vermeeren G, Verloock L, Martens L. · 2010
Researchers measured how much wireless radiation the body absorbs from cell phones and WiFi. They found that 1-year-old children absorb nearly three times more energy than adults from the same signal strength, revealing children face disproportionately higher exposure from everyday wireless devices.
Hirata A et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed rabbits to 2.45-GHz microwave radiation (WiFi frequency) to find thermal stress thresholds. When core body temperature rose just 1°C, rabbits showed clear distress behaviors at 1.3 W/kg exposure levels, helping establish microwave safety limits for humans.
Gerner C et al. · 2010
Austrian researchers exposed four types of human cells to cell phone radiation (1,800 MHz) at levels similar to what phones emit during calls. After 8 hours of exposure, metabolically active cells showed significantly increased protein production, while inactive cells showed no response. The temperature rise was minimal (less than 0.15°C), indicating this was a non-thermal biological effect of the radiation itself.
Frei P et al. · 2010
Researchers measured 166 people's actual radiofrequency exposure for a week and compared it to common estimation methods used in health studies. People's own estimates of their wireless device usage showed almost no correlation with real exposure levels, while computer models performed much better for accurate health research.
Findlay RP, Dimbylow PJ. · 2010
British researchers used computer modeling to calculate how much radiofrequency energy (called SAR) a 10-year-old child's body would absorb from Wi-Fi devices operating at typical household distances. They found that Wi-Fi exposure produced SAR levels of 3.99-5.7 milliwatts per kilogram in the child's torso and head, which is less than 1% of what a cell phone produces. This study provides important baseline data on children's Wi-Fi exposure levels.
Augner C et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed 57 people to cell tower signals at different power levels and measured stress hormones in their saliva. They found that exposure to radiofrequency radiation increased cortisol (a stress hormone) and alpha-amylase (a stress enzyme) at power levels far below current safety guidelines. This suggests that even low-level cell tower radiation may trigger biological stress responses in the human body.
Zhijian C et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed human immune cells to cell phone radiation (1.8 GHz) combined with a chemotherapy drug (doxorubicin) to see how radiation affects DNA repair. They found that while the radiation alone didn't damage DNA, it significantly interfered with the cells' ability to repair DNA damage caused by the chemotherapy drug. This suggests that cell phone radiation may impair the body's natural DNA repair mechanisms when cells are already stressed.
Volkow ND et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed 15 healthy people to pulsed magnetic fields (920 Hz) while measuring brain glucose metabolism using PET scans. They found that areas of the brain exposed to stronger electric fields showed decreased metabolic activity compared to unexposed areas. The stronger the field, the greater the reduction in brain metabolism, suggesting that electromagnetic fields can directly alter brain function.
Szemerszky R, Zelena D, Barna I, Bárdos G. · 2010
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (household electrical frequency) for weeks and found increased blood sugar, stress hormones, and depression-like behavior compared to short-term exposure. This suggests chronic EMF exposure may act as a mild stressor affecting mood and metabolism.
Ozgur E, Güler G, Seyhan N. · 2010
Researchers exposed guinea pigs to cell phone radiation (1800 MHz) for 10-20 minutes daily and found it caused liver damage through oxidative stress. Antioxidants like N-acetyl cysteine and green tea extract provided protection, suggesting cell phone radiation may harm organs beyond the brain.
Potenza L et al. · 2010
Scientists exposed human blood vessel cells to strong magnetic fields for up to 72 hours. The magnetic field initially caused DNA damage and cellular stress within 4 hours, but cells recovered completely by 48 hours, suggesting healthy cells can adapt to magnetic field exposure.
Martínez-Sámano J et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed rats to strong 60 Hz magnetic fields for two hours and found decreased antioxidants in their hearts and blood. These antioxidants normally protect cells from damage, suggesting that even brief exposure to powerful magnetic fields can weaken the body's natural cellular defenses.
Mannerling AC, Simkó M, Mild KH, Mattsson MO · 2010
Researchers exposed human blood cells to 50-Hz magnetic fields at household appliance levels for one hour. The exposure doubled stress protein production and increased harmful oxygen radicals by 30-40%, indicating cellular damage at magnetic field strengths commonly found near home electronics.
Lee HM et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed human spinal disc cells to 60 Hz magnetic fields at 1.8 millitesla for 72 hours to see how electromagnetic fields affect cell growth. They found that the magnetic fields stimulated DNA synthesis and increased cell proliferation without causing cell damage. This suggests that specific EMF exposures might have therapeutic potential for treating degenerative disc disease by promoting healthy cell growth.
Garip AI, Akan Z. · 2010
Scientists exposed human blood cancer cells to electromagnetic fields from power lines for three hours. The fields protected healthy cells from dying but increased cell death in already-stressed cells. This shows that EMF effects depend on the cell's existing health condition.
Akan Z, Aksu B, Tulunay A, Bilsel S, Inhan-Garip A · 2010
Researchers exposed immune cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) while they fought bacterial infections. The magnetic field exposure boosted the cells' bacteria-fighting ability by increasing nitric oxide production and protective proteins. This suggests some EMF exposures might enhance rather than harm immune function.
Szemerszky R, Zelena D, Barna I, Bárdos G. · 2010
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) for either 5 days or 4-6 weeks to study stress effects. They found that long-term exposure led to depression-like behavior, elevated stress hormones, and higher blood glucose levels, while short-term exposure showed no effects. This suggests that chronic exposure to magnetic fields may act as a mild stressor that could contribute to depression and metabolic problems.
Carrubba S, Frilot C 2nd, Chesson AL Jr, Marino AA · 2010
Researchers exposed 20 volunteers to mobile phone pulses (217 Hz frequency) while monitoring brain activity. Advanced analysis detected measurable brain responses in 90% of participants, suggesting mobile phones create detectable changes in brain function that standard testing methods miss.
Croft RJ et al. · 2010
Scientists tested how 2G and 3G cell phone signals affect brain waves in 103 people of different ages during 55-minute exposures. Only young adults showed brain wave changes from 2G signals, while teenagers and elderly showed no effects, suggesting age influences brain sensitivity to phone radiation.
Bak M, Dudarewicz A, Zmyślony M, Sliwinska-Kowalska M · 2010
Researchers exposed 15 volunteers to GSM cell phone radiation for 20 minutes while measuring their brain activity using a test called event-related potentials (ERPs), which tracks how the brain processes information. They found that during EMF exposure, the brain's P300 wave amplitude decreased significantly, but returned to normal levels immediately after exposure ended. This suggests that cell phone radiation can temporarily alter brain function in real-time.
Guler G, Tomruk A, Ozgur E, Seyhan N. · 2010
Researchers exposed pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits to cell phone radiation for 15 minutes daily over seven days. Both groups showed significant DNA damage and cellular stress in brain tissue, while newborns were unaffected. This demonstrates measurable biological harm from everyday cell phone exposure levels.
Tamer A, Gündüz H, Ozyildirim S · 2009
Turkish researchers tested whether mobile phones placed directly on the chest affect heart function in 24 healthy volunteers. They measured heart rate, blood pressure, and electrical activity of the heart when phones were off, on, and ringing. The study found no significant changes in any heart measurements, suggesting that mobile phones positioned near the heart do not immediately disrupt cardiac function in healthy adults.
Stang A et al. · 2009
German researchers studied 459 people with uveal melanoma (a rare eye cancer) to see if mobile phone use increased their risk. They compared these cancer patients to over 1,000 control subjects and found no connection between regular mobile phone use and developing this type of eye cancer. This study contradicted the researchers' own previous findings that had suggested a link.
Söderqvist F, Carlberg M, Hardell L · 2009
Swedish researchers tested whether wireless phone use affects the blood-brain barrier (the protective boundary between blood and brain tissue) by measuring S100B protein levels in blood samples from 1,000 adults. They found no significant association between phone use and elevated S100B levels, suggesting that wireless phones don't appear to compromise blood-brain barrier integrity based on this biomarker.