Of 572 studies examining cancer & tumors, 75% found measurable biological effects from EMF exposure.
Research found effects on cancer & tumors at exposures as low as:
Nearly four out of five studies examining the relationship between electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and cancer risk have documented measurable effects. Out of 738 total studies on this topic, 584 show evidence of cancer-related harm-a 79% concordance rate that reflects a substantial body of scientific concern. This isn't a marginal or disputed finding relegated to fringe research.
Of the 738 studies in our Cancer & Tumors collection, 584 identified effects ranging from DNA damage and increased cancer cell proliferation to disrupted cellular repair mechanisms.
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 627 studies
Unknown authors · 2008
The paper reviews cytogenetic biomonitoring studies of humans exposed to radiofrequency radiation. Most reviewed studies report increased frequencies of genetic damage such as chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes or buccal cells of exposed individuals. Radiation dosimetry was lacking in all papers, and some investigations had more severe flaws.
Unknown authors · 2008
The paper reviews epidemiological literature on mobile phone use and head and neck tumours to consolidate various reports. The literature is particularly heterogeneous, making it difficult to pool in a meta-analysis. Individual reports have described associations between mobile phone use and tumours, but the research is not consistent and on balance shows no evidence of an association. Small associations were reported for ipsilateral mobile phone use greater than 10 years for acoustic neuroma and glioma. The authors argue these associations are especially prone to confounding by recall bias and need replication with methods that minimise bias before being treated as more than suggestive.
Sadetzki S et al. · 2008
Researchers conducted a nationwide study in Israel to assess the association between cellular phone use and parotid gland tumors. For all participants, regular cellular phone use was not associated with an increased risk of parotid gland tumors. However, heavy ipsilateral use without hands-free devices showed elevated odds ratios for cumulative calls and call time.
Lee JJ et al. · 2008
NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts were exposed to 849 MHz RF radiation at average SAR values of 2 or 10 W/kg for either 1 hour or 1 hour per day for 3 days. Cellular invasion and migration were assessed using in vitro Matrigel invasion and Transwell migration assays. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed at 24 and 48 hours after exposure by flow cytometry. The study found no detectable effects on cell cycle distribution, cellular migration, or invasion at the tested SAR values.
Lahkola A et al. · 2008
Researchers conducted an international case-control study of 1209 meningioma cases and 3299 population-based controls, identifying cases from hospitals and controls from national registers and general practitioners' lists. Detailed mobile phone use history was obtained by personal interview, assessing regular use (at least once a week for six months), duration, cumulative hours, and number of calls. Regular users showed lower meningioma risk (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.89), with no increased risk related to years since first use, lifetime years, cumulative hours, or cumulative calls, and findings were consistent across network types, age, and sex.
Hirose H et al. · 2008
Researchers continuously exposed BALB/3T3 cells to 2.1425 GHz W-CDMA RF fields at SARs of 80 and 800 mW/kg for 6 weeks. They also tested MCA-treated cells and MCA plus TPA-treated cells for tumor promotion and co-promotion effects. No significant differences in transformation frequency were found between RF-exposed groups and sham-exposed controls in any treatment condition. The results suggest that exposure to low-level RF radiation of up to 800 mW/kg does not induce cell transformation.
Hardell L, Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Hansson Mild K. · 2008
Researchers evaluated long-term mobile phone use and brain tumour risk in published case-control studies. Ten glioma studies showed an overall odds ratio of 0.9, but a latency of ten years or more gave an odds ratio of 1.2, and ipsilateral use gave an odds ratio of 2.0. Nine acoustic neuroma studies gave an overall odds ratio of 0.9, rising to 1.3 with ten-year latency and 2.4 for ipsilateral use. Seven meningioma studies yielded an overall odds ratio of 0.8, with ten-year latency giving 1.3 and ipsilateral use 1.7.
Chen ZJ, He JL. · 2008
The study aimed to investigate mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phones. The authors noted that conflicting results exist in publications on these effects. They reported that overwhelming findings do not support the assumption that RF exposure may induce mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic effects. However, they stated that health effects from low-level RF exposure need further study.
Cardis E et al. · 2008
Most energy (97-99%) appears to be absorbed in the brain hemisphere on the side where the phone is used, mainly (50-60%) in the temporal lobe. The average relative SAR is highest in the temporal lobe (6-15% of peak SAR) and cerebellum (2-10%), and decreases very rapidly with increasing depth, particularly at higher frequencies. The SAR distribution appears to be fairly similar across phone models, between older and newer phones, and between phones with different antenna types and positions.
Koh EK, Ryu BK, Jeong DY, Bang IS, Nam MH, Chae KS · 2008
Researchers examined the effects of power frequency magnetic fields on cell growth in DU145, PC3, and LNCaP prostate cancer cells in vitro. The cells were exposed to various intensities and durations of 60-Hz sinusoidal magnetic fields with various serum concentrations. MF exposure induced significant cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in an intensity- and time-dependent manner, with increased cell cycle arrest, cleaved Caspase-3, and reactive oxygen species. Pretreatment with a Caspase-3 inhibitor or the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine significantly attenuated the magnetic field-induced growth inhibition and cell death. Media replacement experiments did not alter the magnetic field effects.
Hruby R, Neubauer G, Kuster N, Frauscher M · 2008
The study aimed to detect whether long-term exposure to 902-MHz GSM-type wireless communication signals would affect DMBA-induced mammary tumours in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Five hundred female rats were each given a single oral dose of 17 mg DMBA per kg body weight at an age of 46-48 days.
Wartenberg M et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed UM-SCC-14-C oral mucosa cancer cells to direct current electrical fields with strengths between 2 and 16 V/m for 24 hours and measured effects on cell growth and death. Exposure dose-dependently decreased cell proliferation and was associated with cell cycle arrest. Electrical field treatment at 4 V/m for 24 hours increased apoptosis, and blocking free radicals abolished those apoptosis markers.
Mazor R et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed human peripheral blood lymphocytes from 10 samples to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields at 800 MHz for 72 hours in a waveguide resonator at specific absorption rates of 2.9 and 4.1 W/kg. The study found increased levels of aneuploidy depending on the chromosome studied and the level of exposure, with chromosomal gains appearing to be the primary contributor. Temperature was tested over a range of 33.5–40°C for 72 hours and showed no statistically significant difference in aneuploidy levels compared to 37°C, suggesting the effect may not be due to heating.
Unknown authors · 2007
Researchers conducted point transect sampling at 30 points over 40 visits in Valladolid, Spain, between October 2002 and May 2006, counting sparrows and measuring electric field strength. Mean bird density declined significantly over the study period (P = 0.0037). Bird density was significantly lower in areas with higher electric field strength. A logarithmic regression of bird density against field strength in 0.1 V/m increments yielded a strong negative correlation (R = -0.87, P = 0.0001). The authors concluded that electromagnetic pollution may be responsible for the sparrow decline in European cities, either alone or combined with other factors.
Unknown authors · 2007
A mathematical model of genome degradation is proposed that accounts for a variable mutation rate and the increasing number of cells in a developing human. The model explains cancer development properties such as synergism between mutagens and higher cancer probability early in life. Magnetic nanoparticles are shown to be an endogenous source of chronic magnetic exposure that raises local free-radical levels, and enhanced childhood leukemia is assumed to originate from these nanoparticles in hematopoietic stem cells.
Unknown authors · 2007
Researchers analyzed 60 children with acute leukemia and 59 matched controls in a city in North-Western Iran. They assessed exposure to very high voltage power lines of 123, 230, and 400 kilovolts. Fourteen cases (23.5%) lived within 500 meters of such lines compared with two controls (3.3%), giving an odds ratio of 8.67. Fifteen cases (25%) experienced magnetic fields above 0.45 microtesla versus five controls (8.5%), with an odds ratio of 3.60.
Unknown authors · 2007
Researchers investigated 196 homes from the UK Childhood Cancer Study, including 102 with estimated exposures above 0.2 microT and 21 above 0.4 microT. Surveys were conducted outside all 196 properties and indoor assessments were completed in 19 homes where consent was obtained. Low-voltage sources linked to net currents in circuits inside or around the home were the main contributors to elevated exposures.
Unknown authors · 2007
Unknown authors · 2007
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis comparing CTPA and MRA for diagnosing pulmonary embolism. The search included PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases for English full-text articles. MRA showed a high positive predictive value of 94.7% for pulmonary embolism compared with CTPA. Some analyses indicated MRA has low specificity. CTPA remains the gold standard, with MRA as a secondary test when CTPA is contraindicated.
Unknown authors · 2007
Researchers conducted a case-control study using 4,723 cases from the Northern Region Young Persons' Malignant Disease Registry matched to controls from two independent sources. An increased risk of leukemia was observed in offspring of men in occupations likely associated with EMF or radiation exposure (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02–1.69), with a stronger association in males under six years (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.19–2.75). Increased risks were also seen for chondrosarcoma (OR 8.7, 95% CI 1.55–49.4) and renal carcinoma (OR 6.75, 95% CI 1.73–26.0), and associations were consistent between control groups and remained after adjustment for socio-economic status.
Unknown authors · 2007
Sommer AM, Bitz AK, Streckert J, Hansen VW, Lerchl A · 2007
Smith P, Kuster N, Ebert S, Chevalier HJ · 2007
Researchers exposed 1170 Han Wistar rats to GSM or DCS signals at three nominal SARs of 0.44, 1.33 and 4.0 W/kg for 2 h/day, 5 days/week for up to 104 weeks. No significant differences were found in primary neoplasm incidence, multiplicity, latency, metastases, or benign and malignant neoplasm counts between exposed and sham-exposed rats. The study included sham-exposed groups for each modulation and an unrestrained cage control group, with interim sacrifice at 52 weeks and terminal sacrifice at 104 weeks.
Shirai T et al. · 2007
Pregnant F344 rats received a single dose of ENU on gestational day 18. Rats were exposed to a 1.95-GHz W-CDMA signal for 90 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 104 weeks starting at 5 weeks of age. Brain average specific absorption rates were designed to be .67 and 2.0 W/kg for low and high exposures, respectively. The incidence and numbers of brain tumors in female rats exposed to 1.95-GHz W-CDMA signals showed tendencies to increase but without statistical significance, and overall no significant increase in incidences or numbers was detected in either males or females.
Saran A et al. · 2007
Two hundred Ptc1+/- mice and wild-type siblings were enrolled, and newborns were exposed to 900 MHz radiation at 0.4 W/kg average SAR for 5 days, 0.5 hours twice daily, or sham exposed. GSM-simulated RF fields did not affect survival, with no statistically significant differences between exposed and sham groups. No effects were seen on cerebellar tumors, rhabdomyosarcomas, or skin proliferative lesions.
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