Roschke, J, Mann, K · 1997
German researchers exposed 34 healthy men to cell phone radiation (900 MHz) for 3.5 minutes while measuring their brain activity with EEG sensors. They found no detectable changes in brain wave patterns during the short exposure period compared to when the phone was turned off. This suggests that brief cell phone use may not immediately alter brain electrical activity in awake, healthy adults.
Malyapa RS et al. · 1997
Researchers exposed mouse and human cells to cell phone frequencies (835-847 MHz) for up to 24 hours at power levels similar to phone use to see if the radiation damaged DNA. Using a sensitive test called the comet assay, they found no DNA damage in the exposed cells compared to unexposed control cells. This suggests that cell phone radiation at typical exposure levels may not directly break DNA strands in laboratory conditions.
Jauchem, JR, · 1997
Researchers reviewed studies examining how electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from power lines and radiofrequency radiation from devices like cell phones affect the human heart. They found that most studies showed no significant effects on blood pressure, heart rate, or heart rhythm patterns when exposure levels stayed below current safety standards. While some early Soviet studies in the 1960s suggested heart problems in electrical workers, later Western research could not confirm these findings.
Antonopoulos A, Eisenbrandt H, Obe G, · 1997
Researchers exposed human immune cells (lymphocytes) to electromagnetic fields at frequencies used by cell phones and other wireless devices (380, 900, and 1800 MHz) to see if the radiation would damage the cells' DNA or disrupt their normal growth cycle. The study found no measurable differences between cells exposed to EMF and unexposed control cells. This suggests that these specific frequencies, under the conditions tested, did not cause detectable genetic damage or cellular disruption in immune cells.
Malyapa RS et al. · 1997
Researchers exposed two types of cells (mouse and human) to cell phone radiation at frequencies used by mobile phones (835-847 MHz) for up to 24 hours to see if it caused DNA damage. They found no DNA damage in either cell type when exposed at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.6 W/kg, which is below current regulatory limits. This suggests that cell phone radiation at this level may not directly break DNA strands in laboratory conditions.
Schilling, CJ · 1997
Researchers documented what happened to three antenna engineers who were accidentally exposed to high-level radiofrequency radiation (785 MHz) while working on a television mast. The men immediately felt intense heating in exposed body parts, followed by headaches, numbness, nausea, diarrhea, and skin redness, with chronic headaches persisting in the most exposed areas of their heads. This case study provides direct evidence that RF radiation can cause immediate and lasting health effects in humans at high exposure levels.
Riu PJ, Foster KR, Blick DW, Adair ER, · 1997
Researchers measured how much microwave radiation it takes for people to feel warmth on their skin at frequencies from 2.45 to 94 GHz. They found that humans can detect a temperature increase as small as 0.07 degrees Celsius at the skin surface, and this sensitivity works the same way whether the heat receptors are right at the surface or up to 0.3 millimeters deep. This study helps establish the minimum power levels where people begin to feel thermal effects from microwave exposure.
Persson BRR, Salford LG, Brun A · 1997
Researchers exposed rats to 915 MHz microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for periods ranging from 2 minutes to 16 hours and examined whether this damaged the blood-brain barrier, a critical protective shield that prevents toxins from entering brain tissue. They found that 39% of exposed rats showed abnormal leakage in their blood-brain barrier compared to only 17% of unexposed control rats. This suggests that wireless communication frequencies can compromise the brain's natural protective barrier, potentially allowing harmful substances to reach brain cells.
Maes A, Collier M, Van Gorp U, Vandoninck S, Verschaeve L · 1997
Researchers exposed human blood cells to 935.2 MHz microwaves (the same frequency used by GSM cell phones) to test whether this radiation could damage DNA or chromosomes. They found no direct genetic damage from the microwaves alone, but discovered a very weak increase in DNA damage when cells were exposed to both microwaves and a known cancer-causing chemical called mitomycin C.
Lagorio S et al. · 1997
Researchers tracked the health outcomes of 481 Italian women who worked with radiofrequency-emitting heat sealing equipment in plastic manufacturing from 1962 to 1992. They found elevated rates of cancer deaths, particularly leukemia, among workers in the sealing department where RF exposure occurred compared to other areas of the factory. While the study couldn't rule out other workplace chemicals as contributing factors, it suggests a potential link between occupational RF exposure and increased cancer risk.
Gadzicka E, Bortkiewicz A, Zmyslony M, Palczynski C · 1997
Polish researchers monitored blood pressure and heart rate in 153 male workers exposed to radio frequency EMF at broadcast and radio service stations over periods ranging from 1 to 42 years. While overall blood pressure remained normal, workers showed significantly reduced heart rate variability, suggesting disrupted nervous system regulation of the heart. Radio service workers also had higher rates of elevated blood pressure compared to unexposed controls.
Dolk H, Elliott P, Shaddick G, Walls P, Thakrar B · 1997
British researchers studied cancer rates around 20 high-power TV and radio transmitters from 1974-1986, examining over 3,000 adult leukemia cases within 10 kilometers. They found only a weak decline in adult leukemia risk with distance from transmitters, with no increased cancer risk within 2 kilometers of the towers. This large-scale study failed to replicate earlier findings from a single transmitter site, suggesting that broadcast towers may not significantly increase cancer risk in nearby communities.
Dolk H et al. · 1997
British researchers investigated cancer rates around a major TV and radio transmitter in Sutton Coldfield, England, studying 13 years of cancer registry data within a 10-kilometer radius. They found an 83% increased risk of adult leukemia within 2 kilometers of the transmitter, with cancer risk declining significantly as distance from the transmitter increased. This pattern remained consistent across different time periods and appeared independent of an initially reported cancer cluster.
Vorobyov VV, Galchenko AA, Kukushkin NI, Akoev IG · 1997
Russian scientists exposed rats to weak cell phone-like radiation (945 MHz) for 10 minutes and found immediate changes in brain wave patterns between left and right brain hemispheres within 20 seconds. This suggests microwave radiation can directly interfere with normal brain electrical activity.
Jensh RP · 1997
Pregnant rats exposed to microwave radiation at cell phone and microwave oven frequencies showed concerning effects in offspring. The highest frequency (6000 MHz) caused delayed development, reduced birth weight, and altered brain function, suggesting certain microwave frequencies may affect developing brains.
Hocking B, Gordon IR, Grain HL, Hatfield GE · 1997
Australian researchers studied cancer rates near TV broadcast towers from 1972-1990. Children living closer to the towers had 58% higher leukemia rates and were twice as likely to die from the disease, even at low radiation levels.
French PW, Donnellan M, McKenzie DR, · 1997
Researchers exposed human brain tumor cells (astrocytoma) to 835 MHz radiation-similar to early cell phone frequencies-for 20 minutes three times daily over a week. They found that lower power levels actually caused more biological effects than higher power levels, including reduced DNA synthesis and dramatic changes in cell shape. This counterintuitive finding suggests that weaker EMF signals may disrupt cellular communication pathways in ways that stronger signals do not.
Bortkiewicz et al. · 1997
Researchers studied heart function in 71 workers at AM radio broadcast stations who were regularly exposed to electromagnetic fields compared to 22 unexposed workers. They found that 75% of EMF-exposed workers showed abnormal heart rhythms on electrocardiograms, compared to only 25% of unexposed workers. This suggests that occupational EMF exposure may significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Blick DW et al. · 1997
Researchers tested how much microwave energy triggers warmth sensations on human skin at different frequencies. Higher frequency microwaves (94 GHz) required ten times less power than microwave oven frequencies (2.45 GHz) to produce warmth, showing skin sensitivity increases dramatically with frequency.
Weyandt, TB, Schrader, SM, Turner, TW, Simon, SD · 1996
Researchers studied sperm quality in military personnel who operated radar equipment (which emits microwave radiation) compared to soldiers without such exposure. They found that radar operators had significantly lower sperm counts and concentration than unexposed soldiers. This suggests occupational microwave exposure may reduce male fertility, though the small study size limits the strength of these conclusions.
Nowak B et al. · 1996
Researchers tested whether mobile phones could interfere with single lead VDD pacemakers (a specific type of heart device) by placing a 2-watt cellular phone directly on the skin of 31 patients near their pacemakers. They found no interference with any of the three different pacemaker models tested, even when the devices were programmed to their most sensitive settings.
Grayson JK · 1996
Researchers studied US Air Force personnel to examine whether electromagnetic field exposures from their jobs increased brain tumor risk. They found that men exposed to extremely low frequency fields (power lines, electrical equipment) had a 28% higher risk of brain tumors, while those exposed to radiofrequency/microwave radiation had a 39% higher risk. Interestingly, higher-ranking officers were at significantly greater risk than enlisted personnel, suggesting occupational exposures may play a role in brain tumor development.
Andersson B, Berg M, Arnetz BB, Melin L, Langlet I, Lidén S. · 1996
Swedish researchers studied 17 people who claimed to be electrically hypersensitive, testing whether psychological treatment could help their symptoms. While the treatment group reported feeling less disabled by their condition, neither group showed any actual physiological reactions to electromagnetic field exposure in double-blind tests. This suggests that while the symptoms are real and distressing, they may not be directly caused by EMF exposure itself.
Wilke A, Grimm W, Funck R, Maisch B, · 1996
German researchers tested 50 patients with permanent pacemakers to see if early GSM cell phones could interfere with their heart devices. They found that 4% of patients (2 out of 50) experienced intermittent pacemaker disruption during phone calls, with both affected devices using older unipolar sensing technology. The study concluded that while interference is relatively rare, pacemaker-dependent patients should avoid using cellular phones as a precaution.
Tynes T, Hannevik M, Andersen A, Vistnes AI, Haldorsen T · 1996
Norwegian researchers tracked 2,619 female radio and telegraph operators from 1920 to 1980, comparing their breast cancer rates to the general population. They found these women had a 50% higher risk of developing breast cancer, particularly after age 50. The operators were exposed to radio frequency radiation, night shift work, and some extremely low frequency fields during their careers.
