3,138 Studies Reviewed. 77.4% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
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Cancer & Tumors

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Key Finding: 63% of 293 studies on cancer & tumors found biological effects from EMF exposure.

Of 293 studies examining cancer & tumors, 63% found measurable biological effects from EMF exposure.

Lowest Documented Effect

Research found effects on cancer & tumors at exposures as low as:

Study Exposure Level in ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in Context0.00002, 0.0002, 0.008Extreme Concern1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit10M uW/m2Effects observed in the No Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 500,000,000,000x higher than this exposure level

Research Overview

  • -When nearly 60% of studies examining EMF exposure and cancer risk find evidence of effects, the scientific community is sending a clear signal that deserves your attention.
  • -Out of 226 peer-reviewed studies, 135 have documented associations between electromagnetic field exposure and various forms of cancer and tumor development.
  • -This isn't a handful of outlier studies or preliminary findings - this represents a substantial body of evidence spanning decades of research across multiple countries and research institutions.

When nearly 60% of studies examining EMF exposure and cancer risk find evidence of effects, the scientific community is sending a clear signal that deserves your attention. Out of 226 peer-reviewed studies, 135 have documented associations between electromagnetic field exposure and various forms of cancer and tumor development. This isn't a handful of outlier studies or preliminary findings - this represents a substantial body of evidence spanning decades of research across multiple countries and research institutions.

The evidence shows that reducing exposure duration and intensity can meaningful impact your cellular health, and that knowledge gives you the power to take practical steps that may reduce your long-term cancer risk.

The research presented in this section demonstrates significant evidence that extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposures can cause DNA damage and genetic alterations relevant to leukemia development.

Source: BioInitiative Working Group. BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for Biologically-based Public Exposure Standards for Electromagnetic Radiation. Edited by Cindy Sage and David O. Carpenter, BioInitiative, 2012, updated 2020. www.bioinitiative.org

Showing 293 studies

Alternating magnetic field enhances cytotoxicity of Compound C

Akimoto T et al. · 2018

Researchers exposed human brain cancer cells to alternating magnetic fields (280 kHz frequency) for 30 minutes while treating them with an anti-cancer compound called Compound C. The magnetic field exposure significantly enhanced the cancer-killing effects of the drug, causing more cancer cells to die and preventing them from multiplying. This suggests that magnetic fields might be used to make cancer treatments more effective while potentially allowing lower drug doses.

Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation.

Sun L, Chen L, Bai L, Xia Y, Yang X, Jiang W, Sun W. · 2018

Researchers exposed human cells to power line frequency magnetic fields for 15 minutes and found they triggered harmful cellular changes linked to uncontrolled cell growth. The magnetic fields increased damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species, proving these everyday exposures can disrupt normal cell function.

The Static Magnetic Field Remotely Boosts the Efficiency of Doxorubicin through Modulating ROS Behaviors

Hajipour Verdom B, Abdolmaleki P, Behmanesh M. · 2018

Researchers studied how static magnetic fields affect cancer treatment with doxorubicin (a common chemotherapy drug). They found that magnetic fields at 10 millitesla enhanced the drug's cancer-killing effects by increasing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells. This could potentially allow doctors to use lower doses of chemotherapy while maintaining effectiveness, reducing side effects for patients.

Effects of fifty-hertz electromagnetic fields on granulocytic differentiation of ATRA-treated acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells.

Errico Provenzano A et al. · 2018

Researchers exposed leukemia cells to 50Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) to see how it affected cell development. They found that the magnetic field exposure helped cancer cells mature into normal, healthy blood cells when combined with a standard treatment. This suggests that extremely low frequency magnetic fields might influence how cells develop and could potentially affect blood cell formation in the body.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Probabilistic Multiple-Bias Modeling Applied to the Canadian Data From the Interphone Study of Mobile Phone Use and Risk of Glioma, Meningioma, Acoustic Neuroma, and Parotid Gland Tumors.

Momoli F et al. · 2017

Canadian researchers re-analyzed data from the large Interphone study to see if mobile phone use increases brain tumor risk, using advanced statistical methods to correct for study biases. They found that people with the heaviest phone use (more than 558 lifetime hours) had roughly double the risk of developing glioma, the most common malignant brain tumor. Even after accounting for potential errors in how people remembered their phone use and who participated in the study, this increased risk remained significant.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Analysis of mobile phone use among young patients with brain tumors in Japan.

Sato Y, Kojimahara N, Yamaguchi N · 2017

Japanese researchers analyzed mobile phone ownership among 82 young brain tumor patients (ages 6-18) and compared it to the general population. They found no difference in phone ownership rates between brain tumor patients and healthy children of the same age. The study suggests that mobile phone use was not associated with increased brain tumor risk in this young population.

Mobile phone use and glioma risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yang M et al. · 2017

Researchers analyzed 11 studies involving over 17,000 people to examine whether cell phone use increases brain tumor risk. They found that using a phone for 10 or more years increased the odds of developing glioma (a type of brain tumor) by 44%, with the strongest association for tumors on the same side of the head where people held their phone. The risk was particularly high for low-grade gliomas, which more than doubled with long-term use.

Proteomic analysis of continuous 900-MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure in testicular tissue: a rat model of human cell phone exposure.

Sepehrimanesh M, Kazemipour N, Saeb M, Nazifi S, Davis DL · 2017

Researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for up to 4 hours daily over 30 days and analyzed protein changes in testicular tissue. They found that radiation exposure increased levels of two specific proteins by 70% - proteins that are linked to cellular stress and cancer risk. This matters because many men carry phones in their pants pockets, creating similar exposure patterns to reproductive organs.

Radiofrequency radiations induced genotoxic and carcinogenic effects on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) root tip cells.

Qureshi ST, Memon SA, Abassi AR, Sial MA, Bughio FA. · 2017

Pakistani researchers exposed chickpea seeds to radiation from cell phones (900 MHz) and laptops (3.31 GHz) for 24 and 48 hours to study DNA damage. They found that both devices caused genetic damage to plant cells, with laptop radiation being more harmful than cell phone radiation. The study suggests these everyday devices could potentially cause DNA damage and cancer-like changes in living tissue.

Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

Mokarram P, Sheikhi M, Mortazavi SMJ, Saeb S, Shokrpour N · 2017

Researchers exposed male rats to 900 MHz GSM cell phone radiation for 4 hours and found it altered DNA methylation patterns in colon cells, specifically affecting the estrogen receptor gene. DNA methylation is a process that controls gene activity and plays a role in cancer development. This suggests that cell phone radiation may cause epigenetic changes that could potentially increase colorectal cancer risk.

Effect of Exposure to 900 MHz GSM Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Estrogen Receptor Methylation Status in Colon Cells of Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

Mokarram P, Sheikhi M, Mortazavi SMJ, Saeb S4 Shokrpour N · 2017

Iranian researchers exposed male rats to 900 MHz GSM cell phone radiation for 4 hours and examined how it affected DNA methylation patterns in colon tissue cells. They found that the cell phone radiation altered the methylation pattern of the estrogen receptor alpha gene, which is involved in colorectal cancer development. This suggests that cell phone radiation may contribute to cancer risk through epigenetic changes - modifications that don't alter DNA sequence but affect how genes are expressed.

Mobile phones, cordless phones and rates of brain tumors in different age groups in the Swedish National Inpatient Register and the Swedish Cancer Register during 1998-2015.

Hardell L, Carlberg M. · 2017

Swedish researchers analyzed brain tumor rates from 1998-2015 using two national health databases and found a concerning pattern: brain tumor rates increased by 2.06% annually overall, with the steepest increase of 4.24% per year after 2007. The 20-39 age group showed the highest increases, coinciding with widespread mobile phone adoption, and the researchers discovered that many brain tumors are likely being underreported to cancer registries.

Evaluation of Mobile Phone and Cordless Phone Use and Glioma Risk Using the Bradford Hill Viewpoints from 1965 on Association or Causation.

Carlberg M, Hardell L. · 2017

Researchers used a rigorous scientific framework to evaluate whether mobile and cordless phone use causes brain tumors called gliomas. They found that people with the highest phone use had a 90% increased risk of developing gliomas, with risk doubling for those using wireless phones for 20+ years. The study concluded that radiofrequency radiation from phones should be classified as a human carcinogen.

Exposure to a specific time-varying electromagnetic field inhibits cell proliferation via cAMP and ERK signaling in cancer cells.

Buckner CA, Buckner AL, Koren SA, Persinger MA, Lafrenie RM. · 2017

Researchers exposed multiple types of cancer cells to a specific low-frequency electromagnetic field pattern (25-6 Hz) for one hour daily and found it significantly slowed cancer cell growth without affecting healthy cells. The EMF exposure worked by altering specific cellular signaling pathways (cAMP and ERK) that control cell division. This suggests certain EMF patterns might have therapeutic potential for cancer treatment by selectively targeting malignant cells.

Power frequency magnetic field promotes a more malignant phenotype in neuroblastoma cells via redox-related mechanisms.

Falone S et al. · 2017

Researchers exposed human neuroblastoma cells (a type of brain cancer cell) to 50 Hz magnetic fields at levels similar to those found near power lines. The magnetic field exposure made the cancer cells grow faster and become more resistant to cancer treatment drugs by activating the cells' natural defense systems. This suggests that power-frequency magnetic fields might make certain brain cancers more aggressive and harder to treat.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Effect of cell phone-like electromagnetic radiation on primary human thyroid cells.

Silva V et al. · 2016

Researchers exposed human thyroid cells from surgical patients to cell phone-like radiofrequency radiation and tested for cancer-related changes. They found no effects on cell growth markers, DNA damage indicators, or stress proteins that typically signal cellular harm. The study suggests that under these specific conditions, cell phone radiation did not trigger cancer-promoting changes in thyroid cells.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Time trend in incidence of malignant neoplasms of the central nervous system in relation to mobile phone use among young people in Japan.

Sato Y, Kiyohara K, Kojimahara N, Yamaguchi N. · 2016

Japanese researchers analyzed brain cancer rates among young adults from 1993 to 2010 to see if rising mobile phone use could explain increasing cancer incidence. While they found brain cancer rates did increase during this period (ranging from 2.7% to 12.3% annually depending on age and gender), the patterns didn't match what would be expected from mobile phone exposure. The study concluded that heavy mobile phone use cannot explain the overall increase in brain cancers among young Japanese adults.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Etiology of Pituitary Tumors: A Case Control Study.

Leng L, Zhang Y. · 2016

Researchers in China studied 204 people with pituitary tumors and 246 healthy controls to identify risk factors for these brain tumors. They found that mobile phone use and longer duration of use were associated with increased risk of developing pituitary tumors. This suggests that radiofrequency radiation from cell phones may contribute to tumor development in the pituitary gland, which controls many hormonal functions in the body.

The Intracranial Distribution of Gliomas in Relation to Exposure From Mobile Phones: Analyses From the INTERPHONE Study.

Grell K et al. · 2016

Researchers analyzed 792 brain tumor patients from 13 countries to see if gliomas (a type of brain cancer) occurred more often on the side of the head where people held their cell phones. They found a statistically significant pattern: brain tumors were more likely to develop on the same side of the head where patients reported using their phones most frequently. This spatial relationship held true regardless of how much time people spent on calls, suggesting that location of exposure may be more important than duration.

Dielectric characterization of healthy and malignant colon tissues in the 0.5-18 GHz frequency band.

Fornes-Leal A et al. · 2016

Researchers measured the electrical properties of healthy and cancerous colon tissue samples from 20 patients across frequencies used by cell phones, WiFi, and other wireless devices (0.5-18 GHz). They found that cancerous tissue had significantly different electrical characteristics than healthy tissue, with cancer tissue showing 8.8% higher dielectric constant values. This discovery could lead to new methods for early cancer detection using electromagnetic waves.

Has the incidence of brain cancer risen in Australia since the introduction of mobile phones 29 years ago?

Chapman S, Azizi L, Luo Q, Sitas F. · 2016

Australian researchers analyzed 30 years of brain cancer data (1982-2012) to see if cancer rates increased after mobile phones were introduced in 1987. Despite mobile phone usage reaching 94% of the population by 2014, brain cancer rates remained stable in most age groups and were actually lower than what researchers expected if phones truly caused cancer. The only increase was in people over 70, but this trend began in 1982, before mobile phones existed.

Analysis of the Genotoxic Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation using Buccal Micronucleus Assay: A Comparative Evaluation.

Banerjee S, Singh NN, Sreedhar G, Mukherjee S. · 2016

Researchers examined cells from inside the mouths of mobile phone users to look for micronuclei, which are tiny fragments that indicate DNA damage and are linked to cancer risk. They found that heavy phone users (more than 5 years of use, over 10 hours weekly) had significantly more DNA damage in their mouth cells compared to light users, with the worst damage occurring in people who reported feeling warmth around their ear during calls. The study suggests that even radiation levels considered 'safe' by current standards can cause genetic damage when exposure occurs over long periods.

Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Parotid Gland Tumors: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Al-Qahtani K. · 2016

Researchers studied 26 patients with parotid gland tumors (salivary glands near the ear) and compared them to 61 healthy controls to see if cell phone use was linked to tumor development. They found that people who used their phones for more than one hour daily were 3.47 times more likely to develop these tumors. While the study was small, it suggests a concerning connection between heavy phone use and tumors in the area where phones are typically held against the head.

Effects of radiation from a radiofrequency identification (RFID) microchip on human cancer cells

Lai HC, Chan HW, Singh NP · 2016

Researchers exposed three different types of human cancer cells to radiofrequency energy from RFID microchips for one hour and found that the RF energy killed or slowed the growth of all cancer cell types tested. The effect was blocked when cells were pretreated with compounds that prevent oxidative damage, suggesting the RF energy works by generating harmful free radicals through a chemical process called the Fenton Reaction.

Learn More

For a comprehensive exploration of EMF health effects including cancer & tumors, along with practical protection strategies, explore these books by R Blank and Dr. Martin Blank.

FAQs: EMF & Cancer & Tumors

When nearly 60% of studies examining EMF exposure and cancer risk find evidence of effects, the scientific community is sending a clear signal that deserves your attention. Out of 226 peer-reviewed studies, 135 have documented associations between electromagnetic field exposure and various forms of cancer and tumor development.
The BioInitiative Report database includes 293 peer-reviewed studies examining the relationship between electromagnetic field exposure and cancer & tumors. These studies have been conducted by researchers worldwide and published in scientific journals. The research spans multiple decades and includes various types of EMF sources including cell phones, WiFi, power lines, and other common sources of electromagnetic radiation.
63% of the 293 studies examining cancer & tumors found measurable biological effects from EMF exposure. This means that 186 studies documented observable changes in biological systems when exposed to electromagnetic fields. The remaining 37% either found no significant effects or had inconclusive results, which is typical in scientific research where study design and exposure parameters vary.