EMF Research Studies

A survey study on some neurological symptoms and sensations experienced by long term users of mobile phones.

Balikci K, Cem Ozcan I, Turgut-Balik D, Balik HH. · 2005

Low-intensity electromagnetic fields induce human cryptochrome to modulate intracellular reactive oxygen species

Regoli F et al. · 2005

The assessment of oxygen metabolism selected parameters of blood platelets exposed to low frequency magnetic radiation in cars--in vitro studies.

Buczyński A et al. · 2005

Researchers exposed human blood platelets to electromagnetic fields characteristic of car environments. Free radical generation increased after 30 and 90 minutes of exposure. Malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, reached its highest levels after 30 and 90 minutes compared to controls. The results indicate that platelets are sensitive to this environmental factor.

Study of effects of low level microwave field by method of face masking.

Rodina A, Lass J, Riipulk J, Bachmann T, Hinrikus H · 2005

Ten healthy volunteers were exposed to a 450 MHz, 0.16 mW/cm² electromagnetic field modulated at 7 Hz. The task required identifying two sequentially presented unfamiliar faces and their order from a set of six photos. Performance was significantly worse during real exposure than during sham, but the difference was only 5 %.

Microwaves from GSM mobile telephones affect 53BP1 and gamma-H2AX foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons.

Markovà E, Hillert L, Malmgren L, Persson BR, Belyaev IY. · 2005

Researchers investigated the effects of GSM microwaves at different carrier frequencies on human lymphocytes from healthy persons and from persons reporting hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields. They measured changes in chromatin conformation and analyzed proteins 53BP1 and gamma-H2AX, which have been shown to colocalize in distinct foci with DNA double-strand breaks. GSM microwaves affected chromatin conformation and 53BP1/gamma-H2AX foci similar to heat shock, and on average the same response was observed in lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy subjects.

Investigation of potential effects of cellular phones on human auditory function by means of distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

Janssen T, Boege P, von Mikusch-Buchberg J, Raczek J. · 2005

Researchers investigated potential effects of electromagnetic fields from GSM cellular phones on outer hair cells by measuring distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in 28 normally hearing subjects. No significant change in DPOAE level was found in response to EMF exposure. After compensating for undesired side effects, an extremely small exposure-correlated change of less than 1 dB was observed in some subjects, which the researchers suggested was physiologically irrelevant given the very large dynamic range of hearing in humans.

Exposure to pulse-modulated radio frequency electromagnetic fields affects regional cerebral blood flow.

Huber R et al. · 2005

Researchers investigated the effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields similar to those emitted by mobile phones on waking regional cerebral blood flow in 12 healthy young men. Positron emission tomography scans were taken after 30 min unilateral head exposure to pulse-modulated 900 MHz RF EMF, and a sham control condition was also included. Only the 'handset-like' signal, which had stronger low-frequency components, increased relative cerebral blood flow in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on the side of exposure; the 'base-station-like' signal did not.

Blood-brain barrier and electromagnetic fields: Effects of scopolamine methylbromide on working memory after whole-body exposure to 2.45GHz microwaves in rats.

Cosquer B, Vasconcelos AP, Frohlich J, Cassel JC. · 2005

Non-linear analysis of the electroencephalogram for detecting effects of low-level electromagnetic fields.

Bachmann M, Kalda J, Lass J, Tuulik V, Säkki M, Hinrikus H. · 2005

Researchers exposed 23 healthy volunteers to a 450 MHz microwave field with 7 Hz frequency on-off modulation, with a field power density of 0.16 mW cm(-2) at the scalp. The study compared traditional spectral analysis and a new non-linear method called analysis of the length distribution of low-variability periods to detect EEG changes from microwave exposure. The non-linear method detected a significant effect in six exposed subjects, while spectral analysis found a significant result for only one subject.

Thermophysiological responses of human volunteers to whole body RF exposure at 220 MHz.

Adair ER et al. · 2005

Researchers measured thermoregulatory responses in six adult volunteers during 45-minute whole-body exposures to 220 MHz radio frequency energy at three power densities and three ambient temperatures. Esophageal temperature showed small changes of no more than 0.35 °C and never exceeded 37.3 °C under any test condition. Vigorous sweating occurred at PD = 12 and 15 mW/cm(2), with sweating levels higher than those observed for equivalent PD at 100 MHz. The researchers concluded that exposed subjects thermoregulate efficiently through increased heat loss responses, particularly sweating.

915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy persons.

Belyaev IY et al. · 2005

Researchers exposed human lymphocytes from healthy subjects and from persons reporting hypersensitivity to electromagnetic field (EMF) to 915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field, then measured chromatin conformation and markers of DNA damage. Both exposures caused significant chromatin condensation, similar to heat shock at 41 °C, but no significant differences were found between hypersensitive and healthy subjects. Neither 915 MHz nor 50 Hz exposure induced 53BP1 foci, and no apoptosis was induced.

Studying the synergistic damage effects induced by 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field radiation (RFR) with four chemical mutagens on human lymphocyte DNA using comet assay in vitro.

Baohong Wang et al. · 2005

Researchers studied whether 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field radiation (RFR) at a SAR of 3 W/kg could interact with four chemical mutagens to damage DNA in human lymphocytes in vitro. DNA damage was detected using comet assay at two incubation times after treatment. RFR alone showed no difference in DNA damage compared to the control group, but co-exposure with MMC or 4NQO produced significantly greater DNA damage than those chemicals alone. Co-exposure with bleomycin or methyl methanesulfonate did not significantly increase DNA damage compared with those chemicals alone.

Individual responsiveness to induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes after exposure in vitro to 1800-MHz microwave radiation.

Zotti-Martelli L et al. · 2005

Researchers exposed whole blood samples from nine healthy donors to continuous 1800-MHz microwave radiation at power densities of 5, 10 and 20 mW/cm2 for 60, 120 and 180 minutes, measuring genotoxic effects using the micronucleus assay. A statistically significant but rather low increase in micronuclei was observed depending on exposure time and applied power density. Both spontaneous and induced micronuclei frequencies varied significantly among donors, and the experiment was repeated three months later to test reproducibility.

Absence of genotoxicity in human blood cells exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields as assessed by comet assay, chromosome aberration, micronucleus, and sister chromatid exchange analyses

Unknown authors · 2004

Researchers exposed whole blood samples from five donors to a 50 Hz, 1 mT magnetic field for 2 hours. They used comet assay, sister chromatid exchange, chromosome aberration, and micronucleus tests to assess DNA damage. No significant differences were found between exposed and unexposed samples in any genotoxicity test. A slight but significant decrease in cell proliferation occurred in exposed samples and in samples also exposed to X-rays.

Effect of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on the induction of heat-shock protein gene expression in human leukocytes

Unknown authors · 2004

Researchers exposed human peripheral blood samples to 50 Hz magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 100 microT rms for 4 hours at 37°C. The magnetic-field exposure had no detectable effect on expression of the genes encoding HSP27, HSP70A, or HSP70B. In contrast, heating at 42°C for 2 hours increased HSP27, HSP70A, and HSP70B expression by 10-, 5-, and 12-fold respectively. At 40°C, magnetic-field exposure did not increase gene expression compared to incubation at 40°C without field exposure. The findings suggest that power-frequency electromagnetic fields are not a universal stressor, unlike physical agents such as heat.

Diseases of modern living: neurological changes associated with mobile phones and radiofrequency radiation in humans

Unknown authors · 2004

Case reports of peripheral neurological effects of radiofrequency radiation describe mainly disturbances of noxious sensation called dysaesthesia. Cases have arisen after exposure to much of the frequency range from low MHz to GHz. After very high intensity exposures nerves may be grossly injured; however, after lower intensity exposures which may result in dysaesthesia, ordinary nerve conduction studies demonstrate no abnormality although current perception threshold studies may. Only a small proportion of similarly exposed persons develop symptoms. Some observations are not consistent with the hypothesis that all health effects of radiofrequency radiation arise from thermal mechanisms.

Residential and occupational exposures to 50-Hz magnetic fields and breast cancer in women: a population-based study

Unknown authors · 2004

Researchers conducted a population-based case-control study in Norway to assess residential and occupational exposure to 50-Hz magnetic fields and breast cancer risk. Cases of breast cancer diagnosed from 1980 to 1996 were identified in a cohort of women living near a high-voltage power line, and each case was matched to two controls by year of birth, municipality, and cohort entry year. Residential exposure was calculated from the magnetic fields generated by the power lines before diagnosis, while occupational exposure was based on an exposure matrix. Women with residential exposure had an odds ratio of 1.58 (95% CI: 1.30, 1.92) for breast cancer, whereas the highest occupational exposure yielded an odds ratio of 1.13 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.40).

Malignant melanoma of the skin - not a sunshine story!

Unknown authors · 2004

Researchers reviewed Swedish melanoma incidence, mortality, charter travel statistics, and FM broadcasting network expansion across all counties. Melanoma trend break occurred in 1955, while increased charter sun travel began seven years later. Counties with delayed FM network rollout had stable melanoma mortality during the delay period.

Symptoms of ill health ascribed to electromagnetic field exposure--a questionnaire survey

Unknown authors · 2004

Researchers distributed health questionnaires from June 2001 to people who complained of symptoms they ascribed to electromagnetic field exposure. Within one year, 429 questionnaires were returned and 394 persons reported symptoms, with an average age of 51.0 years and 57% female. The most common symptoms were sleep disorders (58%), headaches (41%), nervousness or distress (19%), fatigue (18%), and concentration difficulties (16%). Participants most often attributed symptoms to mobile phone base stations (74%), mobile phones (36%), cordless phones (29%), and power lines (27%), but no distinct symptom pattern was linked to a specific source.

Electromagnetic fields and health effects--epidemiologic studies of cancer, diseases of the central nervous system and arrhythmia-related heart disease

Unknown authors · 2004

No increased risks were found for leukemia, brain tumors, or breast cancer among the utility workers. Utility workers showed a significantly increased ALS mortality rate that rose with longer employment and higher EMF exposure. The mobile phone cohort showed no increased risk for brain tumors, acoustic neuroma, salivary gland tumors, or leukemia.

Nonthermal GSM Microwaves Affect Chromatin Conformation in Human Lymphocytes Similar to Heat Shock, IEEE Trans Plasma Sci 2004; 32 (4): 1600 - 1608

Unknown authors · 2004

Cellular phone use does not acutely affect blood pressure or heart rate of humans.

Tahvanainen K et al. · 2004

Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 32 healthy subjects exposed to 900 MHz (2 W) and 1800 MHz (1 W) cellular phone signals and sham exposure in separate sessions. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly during or after the 35-minute RF exposures at either frequency compared to sham exposure. Blood pressure was measured with an arm cuff and heart rate was recorded during and after each 35-minute exposure session.

RF dosimetry: a comparison between power absorption of female and male numerical models from 0.1 to 4 ghz.

Sandrini L et al. · 2004

Researchers created a female dielectric anatomical model and compared power absorption in male and female models from 0.1 to 4 GHz. Whole-body-averaged SAR was higher in the female model, mainly due to a thicker subcutaneous fat layer. Maximum 1 g and 10 g averaged SAR did not depend on gender because it occurs in regions without subcutaneous fat.

Validation of self-reported cellular phone use.

Samkange-Zeeb F, Berg G, Blettner M · 2004

Researchers compared self-reported cellular phone use from 68 participants with network provider records over three months. The correlation for number of calls per day was good at r=0.62, while the correlation for average call duration was moderate at r=0.34. Cumulative phone use showed a correlation of r=0.56.

Ecological study on residences in the vicinity of AM radio broadcasting towers and cancer death: preliminary observations in Korea.

Park SK,Ha M, Im H-J · 2004

Researchers compared cancer mortality in ten areas with AM radio towers over 100 kW to control areas without towers using Korean death certificates from 1994-1995. All-cancer mortality was significantly higher in exposed areas with a mortality rate ratio of 1.29 (95% CI 1.12-1.49). Leukemia mortality was elevated in exposed areas (MRR 1.70, 95% CI 0.84-3.45), with the highest ratios in children aged 0-14 (MRR 2.29) and young adults aged 15-29 (MRR 2.44). Significant increases were seen at several power levels (100 kW, 250 kW, 500 kW) but without a consistent increasing trend across power groups. The authors concluded that the findings do not prove causation but suggest further analytical studies are needed.