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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Exposure to AC and DC magnetic fields induces changes in 5-HT1B receptor binding parameters in rat brain membranes.

Espinosa JM, Liberti M, Lagroye I, Veyret B. · 2006

Researchers studied the binding properties of the serotonin 5-HT1B receptor in rat brain membranes under exposure to AC and DC magnetic fields. One-hour exposures at 1.1 mT at 50 Hz caused statistically significant increases in both the K(D) and B(max) binding parameters, from 1.74 to 4.51 nM and from 1428 to 2137 CPM, respectively. DC fields had a lesser effect compared to AC fields at low values of K(Dsham), but decreased the affinity at higher values of K(Dsham). The researchers described these findings as one of the few documented pieces of evidence for cell-free effects of DC and extremely low frequency AC magnetic fields in the mT range.

Franceschi CAge-Dependent Effects of in Vitro Radiofrequency Exposure (Mobile Phone) on CD95+ T Helper Human Lymphocytes.

Capri M et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from young and elderly donors to radiofrequency radiation at 1,800 MHz and a Specific Absorption Rate of 2 W/kg, with or without mitogenic stimulation. However, RF exposure produced a slight but significant downregulation of CD95 expression in stimulated CD4+ T lymphocytes from elderly donors only.

Integration of differences in EEG analysis reveals changes in human EEG caused by microwave.

Bachmann M et al. · 2006

Researchers applied three different EEG analysis methods to detect changes caused by microwave exposure in healthy volunteers. Volunteers were exposed to 450 MHz microwave radiation modulated at several different frequencies, with a field power density of 0.16 mW/cm2 at the scalp. Statistically significant changes in EEG rhythms energy and dynamics were found in between 12% and 30% of subjects.

DNA damage and repair induced by acute exposure of microwave from mobile phone on cultured human lens epithelial cells

Sun LX, Yao K, Jiang H, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW · 2006

Researchers exposed cultured human lens epithelial cells to 217 Hz modulated microwave radiation at four SAR levels for 2 hours. DNA single strand breaks were measured using the comet assay immediately after irradiation and at 30 and 60 minutes afterward. At the highest dose, significant DNA damage remained one hour after irradiation and cell proliferation was significantly decreased.

Oxidative Stress104 citations

GSM Base Station Electromagnetic Radiation and Oxidative Stress in Rats.

Yurekli AI et al. · 2006

Researchers used a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) cell to expose rats to electromagnetic fields at the GSM base transceiver station frequency of 945 MHz. The power density applied was 3.67 W/m2 (specific absorption rate = 11.3 mW/kg), which the researchers described as well below current exposure limits. MDA levels increased and GSH concentrations decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) under this exposure. There was also a less significant (p = 0.0190) increase in SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity under EM exposure.

Oxidative Stress147 citations

Protective effects of melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester against retinal oxidative stress in long-term use of mobile phone: A comparative study.

Ozguner F, Bardak Y, Comlekci S. · 2006

Researchers compared how well melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) protected rat retinas from oxidative stress caused by exposure to 900 MHz mobile-phone radiation. Melatonin and CAPE were administered daily for 60 days to the rats prior to their EMR exposure. Retinal levels of the oxidative stress markers NO and MDA increased in EMR-exposed rats, while both melatonin and CAPE caused a significant reduction in those levels. Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) decreased in EMR-exposed animals, but both treatments significantly increased those activities.

Psychophysiological tests and provocation of subjects with mobile phone related symptoms

Wilen J, Johansson A, Kalezic N, Lyskov E, Sandstrom M · 2006

Researchers investigated the effect of a mobile phone-like radiofrequency electromagnetic field on people who reported subjective symptoms when using mobile phones. Twenty subjects with mobile phone-related symptoms were matched with 20 controls without such symptoms, and each person took part in one true exposure session and one sham exposure session in random order. No significant differences related to radiofrequency exposure conditions were detected. The symptomatic group displayed a shift in low/high frequency ratio towards sympathetic dominance in the autonomous nervous system during tests, regardless of exposure condition.

Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field in the brain of rats

Jelenković A et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed adult male Wistar rats to a 50 Hz, 0.5 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field for 7 days, while control rats were sham-exposed. Superoxide dismutase activities and production of superoxide radicals, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide were examined in the frontal cortex, striatum, basal forebrain, hippocampus, brainstem, and cerebellum. Superoxide radicals were significantly increased in all regions examined, and lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the basal forebrain and frontal cortex. The researchers indicated that the 7-day exposure can be harmful to the brain, especially to the basal forebrain and frontal cortex due to development of lipid peroxidation.

Immune System108 citations

Alteration in cellular functions in mouse macrophages after exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields.

Frahm J, Lantow M, Lupke M, Weiss DG, Simkó M · 2006

Researchers investigated whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect cellular functions and immunologic parameters of mouse macrophages. Magnetic field exposure led to a 1.6-fold increased uptake of latex beads in exposed cells compared to controls after 45 minutes. IL-1β formation increased significantly after 4 hours and reached a maximum 12.3-fold increase after 24 hours compared to controls. All tested flux densities significantly stimulated free radical formation, and no significant differences in micronucleus formation were found in exposed cells.

Magnetic fields protect from apoptosis via redox alteration

De Nicola M et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed U937 cells to static magnetic fields at 6 mT and found a strong increase of reactive oxygen species and a decrease of glutathione levels after 2 hours of exposure. Extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields also affected intracellular glutathione, starting from a threshold at 0.09 mT. ELF magnetic fields protected U937 from apoptosis, but this ability was limited to the ELF intensities able to alter redox equilibrium. When the cells' redox state was artificially altered, magnetic fields failed to affect apoptosis, suggesting a correct intracellular redox state is required for the antiapoptotic effect.

Mobile phone radiation causes changes in gene and protein expression in human endothelial cell lines and the response seems to be genome- and proteome-dependent.

Nylund R, Leszczynski D. · 2006

Researchers examined in vitro cell response to mobile phone radiation using two variants of a human endothelial cell line: EA.hy926 and EA.hy926v1. Gene expression changes were examined using cDNA Expression Arrays and protein expression changes were examined using 2-DE and PDQuest software. Gene and protein expression were altered in both examined cell lines after one hour of exposure at an average specific absorption rate of 2.8 W/kg, but the same genes and proteins were differently affected in each line.

Exposure of rat brain to 915 MHz GSM microwaves induces changes in gene expression but not double stranded DNA breaks or effects on chromatin conformation.

Belyaev IY et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed rats to 915 MHz GSM microwaves for 2 hours at a SAR of 0.4 mW/g and then examined brain cells for DNA damage and gene expression changes. In the cerebellum, 11 genes were upregulated in a range of 1.34 to 2.74 fold and one gene was downregulated 0.48-fold (P < .0025). The exposure did not induce detectable DNA double strand breaks or changes in chromatin conformation.

Effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung cells

Zhang DY, Xu ZP, Chiang H, Lu DQ, Zeng QL. · 2006

Researchers studied the effects of GSM 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage in Chinese hamster lung cells. Cells were intermittently exposed to GSM 1800 MHz RF EMF at a SAR of 3.0 W/kg for either 1 hour or 24 hours, using a pattern of 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off. After 24 hours of exposure, the percentage of gammaH2AX foci positive cells was 37.9 +/- 8.6%, significantly higher than the sham-exposed group at 28.0 +/- 8.4%. The 1-hour exposure showed no significant difference from sham exposure.

Effect of acute exposure to microwave from mobile phone on DNA damage and repair of cultured human lens epithelial cells in vitro

Sun LX, Yao K, He JL, Lu DQ, Wang KJ, Li HW. · 2006

Cultured LECs were exposed to 217 Hz modulated 1.8 GHz microwave radiation at specific absorption rates of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 W/kg for 2 hours. DNA single strand breaks were detected with comet assay at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after irradiation. At 1 and 2 W/kg, the difference in DNA breaks between exposure and sham exposure groups was not significant at any detection time. At 3 and 4 W/kg, differences were significant immediately and 30 minutes after irradiation, with the difference disappearing after one hour in the 3 W/kg group but persisting in the 4 W/kg group.

Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation

Paulraj R, Behari J. · 2006

Researchers exposed 35-day-old male Wistar rats to microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz and 16.5 GHz for 35 days to study effects on developing rat brain. After exposure, the researchers measured DNA single strand breaks in brain tissue using micro gel electrophoresis (comet assay), with fifty cells from each slide and two slides per animal observed. The study found a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in DNA single strand breaks in the brain cells of exposed rats.

Effects of 1.8GHz radiofrequency field on DNA damage and expression of heat shock protein 70 in human lens epithelial cells

Lixia S et al. · 2006

Researchers exposed human lens epithelial cells (hLEC) to a 1.8 GHz GSM radiofrequency field at SARs of 1, 2, and 3 W/kg for 2 hours and then measured DNA damage, Hsp70 expression, and cell proliferation. DNA breaks at 1 and 2 W/kg were not significantly different from controls at any time point, while the 3 W/kg dose showed significantly increased DNA damage only at 0 and 30 minutes after exposure. Hsp70 protein expression was significantly increased at 2 and 3 W/kg, but Hsp70 mRNA expression did not change in any group, and cell proliferation was unaffected at all doses.

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Deaths in Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 1989 to 1998

Zhi-Jie Zheng et al. · 2005

Of 48,573 cardiac disease deaths in this age group, 31,827 (65.5%) occurred out of hospital. The leading underlying causes of out-of-hospital cardiac death were coronary heart disease (28.7%), cardiomyopathy (17.7%), and conduction disorders or dysrhythmias (13.6%). Age-adjusted out-of-hospital cardiac death rates increased from 1989–1990 to 1997–1998 by 11% in men, 33% in women, 11% in African Americans, and 19% in whites.

50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields 185 enhance cell proliferation and DNA damage: possible involvement of a redox mechanism

Wolf FI et al. · 2005

Researchers exposed HL-60 leukemia cells, Rat-1 fibroblasts, and WI-38 diploid fibroblasts to 0.5-1.0 mT 50-Hz ELF-EMF for 24-72 hours. The treatment caused a dose-dependent increase in proliferation rate, about 30% after 72 hours at 1.0 mT. DNA damage increased dose-dependently with peaks at 24 and 72 hours. Pretreatment with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol prevented both the proliferation increase and DNA damage, implicating redox mechanisms.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Evaluating DNA damage in rodent brain after acute 60 Hz magnetic-field exposure

Unknown authors · 2005

Researchers investigated whether acute magnetic-field exposure could elicit DNA damage in brain cells from adult rats, adult mice, and immature mice. Rodents were exposed to a 60 Hz magnetic field at 0, 0.1, 1, or 2 mT for 2 h and brain cells were analyzed at 0, 2, and 4 h after exposure using the alkaline comet assay. No significant increase in DNA damage was detected at any magnetic-field strength or time point.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Low dose magnetic fields do not cause oxidative DNA damage in human placental cotyledons in vitro

Unknown authors · 2005

Researchers exposed human placental cotyledons to magnetic fields of 2 mT and 5 mT at 50 Hz for 3 hours in vitro. They measured the concentration of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) in cellular DNA. The results suggest that placental tissues possess a capacity to protect DNA against oxidative alterations from magnetic field intensities that have caused DNA damage in rat brain cells and electrolyte imbalances in cotyledons.

[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on DNA of testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure in mice] Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi

Unknown authors · 2005

Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields at 0.2 mT or 6.4 mT for 4 weeks. DNA strand breakage in testicular cells was measured using single-cell gel electrophoresis, and sperm chromatin structure was analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage of testicular cells with DNA migration increased from 25.64% in controls to 37.83% and 39.38% after exposure to 0.2 mT and 6.4 mT, respectively. Comet tail length and the percentage of DNA in the tail also increased significantly in both exposure groups. The proportion of sperm with abnormal chromatin structure (COMPalphaT) increased in both exposed groups, while S.D.alphaT and XalphaT did not change significantly.

Changes in polyamines, c-myc and c-fos gene expression in osteoblast-like cells exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields

Unknown authors · 2005

Researchers analyzed the effect of a clinically useful pulsed electromagnetic field on MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells. The cells were grown in medium with 0.5% or 10% fetal calf serum. PEMF increased thymidine incorporation and decreased putrescine, while spermidine and spermine were not significantly affected. c-myc was activated after 1 hour and then downregulated, while c-fos mRNA increased after 0.5 hour and then decreased.

[Relationship between millimeter wave irradiation in pregnant mice and c-Fos protein expression in hippocampus and learning and memory functions in their offsprings]

Unknown authors · 2005

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to millimeter waves at 37.4, 42.2, 53.0, and 60.0 GHz with power densities of 1, 3, 5, and 8 mW/cm(2) for two hours daily from gestation day 6 to 15. Offspring learning and memory were tested using a Y-type electric maze, and hippocampal c-Fos protein expression was measured at multiple time points after training. The lowest power density that decreased both learning and memory and c-Fos expression was 5 and 3 mW/cm(2). Injury severity increased with power density, and no rise in maternal body temperature was observed.

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