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 1,318 studies matching "radiofrequency"

CardiovascularNo Effects Found

Membrane potential and currents of isolated heart muscle cells exposed to pulsed radio frequency fields.

Linz et al. · 1999

Researchers tested the effects of radio frequency fields at 180, 900, and 1800 MHz on the electrical properties of isolated ventricular myocytes from guinea pigs and rats. The fields were applied using rectangular waveguides or a TEM cell at specific absorption rates up to 880 mW/kg, with 900 and 1800 MHz signals pulsed to the GSM standard. None of the tested electrophysiological parameters, including membrane potential, action potential, L-type calcium current, and potassium currents, were significantly changed by RF exposure. Lowering the temperature from 36°C to 24°C reduced current amplitude by almost 50% and shifted voltage dependence by about 5 mV, but RF exposure at the lower temperature still did not affect L-type calcium current.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields have no effect on the in vivo proliferation of the 9L brain tumor.

Higashikubo R et al. · 1999

Researchers exposed Fischer 344 rats implanted with 9L gliosarcoma cells to 835.62 MHz FMCW or 847.74 MHz CDMA fields with a nominal brain specific absorption rate of 0.75 +/- 0.25 W/kg. The animals were exposed for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, starting 4 weeks before tumor implantation and continuing up to 150 days after. Sham-exposed rats injected with 2 to 10 cells had a median survival of 70 days with 27% surviving to 150 days; those with 11 to 36 cells had a median survival of 52 days and 14% final survival; those with 37 to 100 cells had a median survival of 45 days and 0% survival. Statistical comparison showed no significant differences in survival curves between RF-exposed and sham-exposed animals in any of the three cell-dose groups.

IRIDIUM exposure increases c-fos expression in the mouse brain only at levels which likely result in tissue heating.

Morrissey JJ et al. · 1999

Researchers investigated the effects of a one-hour exposure of mice to a 1.6-GHz radiofrequency signal, either continuous wave or pulse-modulated at 11 Hz (IRIDIUM), on c-fos gene expression in the brain. C-fos expression was not significantly elevated until exposure levels exceeded six times the peak dose and 30 times the whole-body average dose relative to human cellular telephone exposure limits. The pattern of c-fos elevation in limbic cortex and subcortex areas was consistent with a stress response due to thermal perception and restraint, not a direct interaction of IRIDIUM energy with brain tissue.

Human exposure at two radio frequencies (450 and 2450 MHz): similarities and differences in physiological response.

Adair ER, Cobb BL, Mylacraine KS, Kelleher SA, · 1999

Researchers measured thermoregulatory responses in two groups of seven adult volunteers exposed for 45 minutes to whole-body radio-frequency fields at either 450 or 2450 MHz. At each frequency, two power densities were tested at each of three ambient temperatures (24, 28, and 31 degrees C), along with no-RF control conditions. No change in metabolic heat production occurred under any exposure conditions at either frequency. At both frequencies, normalized peak SARs in excess of ANSI/IEEE C95.1 guidelines were easily counteracted by normal thermophysiological mechanisms.

Sleep & Circadian RhythmNo Effects Found163 citations

Human sleep under the influence of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: a polysomnographic study using standardized conditions.

Wagner, P, Roschke, J, Mann, K, Hiller, W, Frank, C · 1998

Researchers recorded all-night polysomnographies of 24 healthy male subjects with and without exposure to a circularly polarized 900 MHz pulsed electromagnetic field at 0.2 W/m². Suppression of REM sleep and a sleep-inducing effect under field exposure did not reach statistical significance, so previous results indicating alterations of these sleep parameters could not be replicated. Spectral power analysis also did not reveal any alterations of the EEG rhythms during EMF exposure.

CardiovascularNo Effects Found

No effects of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields on heart rate variability during human sleep

Mann, K, Roschke, J, Connemann, B, Beta, H · 1998

The influence of pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by digital mobile radio telephones on heart rate during sleep in healthy humans was investigated. For most parameters, significant differences between different sleep stages were found. Under the given experimental conditions, autonomic control of heart rate was not affected by weak-pulsed high-frequency electromagnetic fields.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Chronic, low-level (1.0 W/kg) exposure of mice prone to mammary cancer to 2450 MHz microwaves.

Frei et al. · 1998

Researchers exposed 100 C3H/HeJ mice to continuous-wave 2450 MHz RF radiation at 1.0 W/kg for 78 weeks, 20 hours per day, 7 days per week, while 100 mice were sham-exposed. There was no significant difference in mammary tumor incidence between exposed mice (38%) and sham-exposed mice (30%). Latency to tumor onset was similar: 62.5 weeks for exposed mice and 62.0 weeks for sham-exposed mice. Histopathological evaluation found no significant difference in malignant, metastatic, or benign neoplasms between groups.

Effect of environmental temperature on the interactive developmental toxicity of radiofrequency radiation and 2-methoxyethanol in rats.

Nelson BK, Conover DL, Krieg EF Jr, Snyder DL, Edwards RM · 1998

Researchers tested whether environmental temperature changes the interactive developmental toxicity of radiofrequency radiation and 2-methoxyethanol. Environmental temperature affected the specific absorption rate needed to maintain a given colonic temperature but did not affect the interactive developmental toxicity. The results add to evidence that developmental toxicity of radiofrequency radiation is associated with colonic temperature, not with specific absorption rate. Fetuses were examined for external malformations on gestation day 20.

Radiofrequency (RF) sickness in the Lilienfeld Study: an effect of modulated microwaves?

Johnson Liakouris AG · 1998

In this study, the controversy was evaluated with a methodology adapted from case studies. A review of the Lilienfeld Study found that disregarded health conditions match the radiofrequency sickness syndrome cluster, establishing a possible correlation with chronic exposure to low-intensity modulated microwave radiation. The author reviewed U.S. literature and found research results sufficiently consistent to warrant further inquiry.

Resting blood pressure increase during exposure to a radio-frequency electromagnetic field.

Braune, S, Wrocklage, C, Raczek, J, Gailus, T, Lucking, CH · 1998

The study enrolled seven healthy men and three women volunteers aged 26 to 36 years in a single-blind placebo-controlled design. Participants were exposed to a GSM 900 MHz signal at 2 Watt with a 217 Hz frame repetition rate for 35 min per session. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded continuously with a Finapres device, while capillary perfusion was measured with an infrared plethysmograph on the right hand.

Alteration of diurnal rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate to workers exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

Szmigielski et al. · 1998

The study enrolled 61 workers exposed to radiofrequency EMF (0.738-1.503 Mhz) and 42 unexposed controls, all following identical 12-24-12-48 hour shift schedules. Exposed workers were divided into low-intensity (20-180 V/m, 38 subjects) and high-intensity (200-550 V/m, 23 subjects) groups. Exposed workers had significantly reduced rhythm amplitudes (P < 0.01) and an earlier acrophase at 1100-1200 h (P < 0.05) for blood pressure and heart rate, with more pronounced effects in the high-intensity group. Diurnal rhythm parameters were derived from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure recordings using cosinor analysis. The authors conclude that occupational RF EMF exposure can alter diurnal cardiovascular rhythms, but clinical relevance needs further investigation.

Interaction of low level modulated RF radiation with Na+¯K+-ATPase.

Behari J, Kunjilwar KK, and Pyne S · 1998

Researchers studied the effect of low-level amplitude-modulated radiofrequency radiation on Na+–K+-ATPase activity in the brains of developing male Wistar rats aged 23 days. Rats were exposed to carrier wave frequencies of 147 MHz and its sub-harmonic frequencies 73.5 and 36.75 MHz, amplitude modulated at 16 and 76 Hz, for 30–35 days at 3 hours per day. Na+–K+-ATPase activity increased by around 19–20% in rats exposed with amplitude modulation at 16 Hz, and by around 15–16% in rats exposed with amplitude modulation at 76 Hz, compared to controls. The researchers concluded that the effect on Na+–K+-ATPase activity was insensitive to the carrier wave frequencies under investigation.

Thermophysiological responses of human volunteers during controlled whole-body radio frequency exposure at 450 MHz.

Adair ER, Kelleher SA, Mack GW, Morocco TS, · 1998

Thermoregulatory responses of heat production and heat loss were measured in seven adult volunteers (four women and three men, aged 21–57 years) during 45-minute dorsal exposures of the whole body to 450 MHz continuous wave RF fields. Two power densities were tested at each of three ambient temperatures (24, 28, and 31 °C), plus control conditions with no RF. No changes in metabolic heat production occurred, and deep body temperature was regulated to within 0.1 °C of the normal level through vigorous increases in sweating rate on the back and chest.

DNA damage in Molt-4 T- lymphoblastoid cells exposed to cellular telephone radiofrequency fields in vitro

Phillips et al. · 1998

Researchers exposed Molt-4 T-lymphoblastoid cells in vitro to pulsed radiofrequency signals at cellular telephone frequencies of 813.5625 MHz (iDEN® signal) and 836.55 MHz (TDMA signal) to detect DNA damage. The alkaline comet assay was used to measure DNA single-strand breaks in exposed cell cultures compared to sham-exposed cultures. At an SAR of 24 μW g−1, exposure to the iDEN® signal for 2 h and 21 h significantly increased DNA damage, while at 2.4 μW g−1 the same signal significantly decreased DNA damage. The researchers concluded that the data indicate a need to study the effects of exposure to RF signals on direct DNA damage and on the rate at which DNA damage is repaired.

Radiofrequency exposure near high-voltage lines

Unknown authors · 1997

Many epidemiologic studies suggest a relationship between leukemia incidence and exposure to 50/60 Hz magnetic fields. Radiofrequency currents used for communications have been detected on high- and medium-voltage lines. The intensity of RF fields is low but induced currents in the human body increase with frequency, so the authors argue RF fields must be considered in epidemiologic studies.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Frequency of micronuclei in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of cancer-prone mice chronically exposed to 2450 MHz radiofrequency radiation.

Vijayalaxmi et al. · 1997

C3H/HeJ mice prone to mammary tumors were exposed to 2450 MHz RF radiation at 1.0 W/kg for 20 hours per day, 7 days a week, over 18 months, with sham-exposed controls and positive controls treated with mitomycin C. The incidence of micronuclei in peripheral blood and bone marrow did not differ significantly between RF-exposed and sham-exposed groups. Positive controls treated with mitomycin C showed significantly elevated micronuclei frequencies. A separate analysis of mice that developed mammary tumors also found no significant differences in micronuclei frequency between exposure groups.

Sleep & Circadian RhythmNo Effects Found

Absence of chronic effect of exposure to short-wave radio broadcast signal on salivary melatonin concentrations in dairy cattle.

Stark KD, Krebs T, Altpeter E, Manz B, Griot C, Abelin T · 1997

Researchers conducted a pilot study comparing two dairy herds at 500 m and 4,000 m from a short-wave radio transmitter, monitoring five cows per farm for salivary melatonin over ten days. The average nightly field strength was 21-fold higher on the exposed farm (1.59 mA/m) than on the control farm (0.076 mA/m). No significant difference in melatonin was seen during the first two nights, but on the first night after the transmitter was turned back on following a three-day off period, melatonin concentration was significantly higher on the exposed farm (3.89 pg/ml, CI: 2.04, 7.41), indicating a two- to seven-fold increase.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in C6 glioma and primary glial cells exposed to a 836.55 MHz modulated radiofrequency field.

Stagg RB, Thomas WJ, Jones RA, Adey WR · 1997

Researchers exposed transformed and normal rat glial cells to an 836.55 MHz packet-modulated RF field at power densities of 0.09, 0.9, and 9 mW/cm2, with SARs from 0.15 to 59 muW/g. Primary rat glial cells showed no significant differences in DNA synthesis between sham and RF-exposed conditions for either log-phase or serum-starved cultures. C6 glioma cells exposed at 5.9 muW/g SAR showed small but significant increases in thymidine incorporation in 38% of experiments. Growth curves showed no differences between sham and RF-exposed cultures for either cell type, and doubling times of C6 glioma cells did not differ significantly.

Reproductive HealthNo Effects Found

The lack of effects of nonthermal RF electromagnetic fields on the development of rat embryos grown in culture.

Klug S, Hetscher M, Giles S, Kohlsmann S, Kramer K, · 1997

Researchers exposed 9.5-day-old rat embryos for up to 36 hours to radiofrequency electric and magnetic fields with modulation frequencies of 16, 60, and 120 Hz. The exposure included electric field strengths of 60 and 600 V/m, magnetic inductions of 0.2 and 2.0 microtesla, and specific absorption rates of 0.2, 1.0, and 5.0 W/kg. Neither the electric nor the magnetic fields interfered significantly with normal embryo growth and differentiation when assessed on day 11.5 using a scoring system, photographs, histology, and protein content.

CardiovascularNo Effects Found

Exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation: cardiovascular effects in humans.

Jauchem, JR, · 1997

The review examined cardiovascular changes in humans exposed to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation. Most studies showed no acute effect of ELF EMFs on blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiogram waveform, though some reported subtle heart rate effects. Soviet reports from the 1960s linked long-term ELF EMF exposure to arrhythmias and tachycardia in switchyard workers, but Western studies did not confirm this. MRI-related RFR exposures were concluded not likely to cause adverse cardiovascular effects. Overall, no obvious cardiovascular hazards were found for exposures below current standards.

Brain & Nervous SystemNo Effects Found

Exposure of nerve growth factor-treated PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells to a modulated radiofrequency field at 836.55 MHz: effects on c-jun and c-fos expression.

Ivaschuk OI et al. · 1997

Researchers exposed nerve growth factor-treated PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells to a packet-modulated 836.55 MHz radiofrequency field at power densities of 0.09, 0.9, and 9 mW/cm2 for 20, 40, or 60 minutes, with an intermittent 20-minute on/off regimen. Sham-exposed cells served as controls, and c-fos and c-jun expression was measured by Northern blot analysis of total RNA. C-fos transcript levels did not change after 20 minutes at any intensity, while c-jun transcripts decreased by 38% only after 20 minutes at 9 mW/cm2.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Focus formation of C3H/10T1/2 cells and exposure to a 836.55 MHz modulated radiofrequency field.

Cain CD, Thomas DL, Adey WR · 1997

The study tested whether a TDMA-modulated RF field and the tumor promoter TPA together increase focus formation of transformed cells cocultured with parental C3H/10T1/2 murine fibroblasts. Cell cultures were exposed to an 836.55 MHz TDMA-modulated field at specific absorption rates of 0.15, 1.5, and 15 μW/g in a repeating cycle of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off continuously for 28 days. RF exposure did not significantly alter TPA-induced focus formation at any of the tested exposure levels across multiple independent experiments.

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