6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
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Cancer & Tumors

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Key Finding: 75% of 572 primary studies on cancer & tumors found biological effects from EMF exposure.

Of 572 studies examining cancer & tumors, 75% 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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in Context200 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 50,000 times higher than this level

Research Overview

  • -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.

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

Cancer & Tumors122 citations

Intraocular melanoma linked to occupations and chemical exposures.

Holly EA, Aston DA, Ahn DK, Smith AH. · 1996

Researchers conducted a case-control study in the western United States to examine the relation between occupations or chemical exposures and uveal melanoma risk. Among 221 male cases and 447 controls, intense ultraviolet light exposure, welding exposure, asbestos exposure, and occupations as chemists, chemical engineers, or chemical technicians were associated with elevated odds ratios.

Childhood cancer in relation to indicators of magnetic fields from ground current sources

Unknown authors · 1995

The study examined childhood cancer risk in relation to factors indicating magnetic field exposure from ground currents in homes. Researchers obtained plumbing conductivity data from water suppliers for 347 cases and 277 controls from a Denver area study. Children in homes with conductive plumbing had a matched odds ratio of 1.72, which rose to 3.00 for residentially stable participants. A metric of nonvertical magnetic fields above median intensity showed a matched odds ratio of 4.0, and similar associations appeared in an independent Seattle leukemia dataset.

Magnetic fields, leukemia, and central nervous system tumors in Swedish adults residing near high- voltage power lines

Unknown authors · 1994

Researchers conducted a case-control study of adults who lived between 1960 and 1985 on properties in Sweden within 300 meters of 220 or 400 kilovolt power lines. The study identified 325 leukemia cases and 223 central nervous system tumor cases, with two matched controls per case. Exposure was assessed by spot measurements and by calculations of the magnetic fields generated by the power lines. For calculated magnetic field levels of 0.2 microT or more, the relative risk was 1.7 for acute myeloid leukemia and 1.7 for chronic myeloid leukemia; using cumulative exposure for 15 years the relative risks were 2.3 and 2.1 for the highest exposure category.

Investigation of increased incidence in childhood leukemia near radio towers in Hawaii: preliminary observations

Unknown authors · 1994

A case-control study with 12 cases and 48 matched controls examined risk factors including distance to low frequency radio towers. The odds ratio for having lived within 2.6 miles of the radio towers before diagnosis was 2.0 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.06 to 8.3. The authors noted the clustering may have been a chance event but should be noted due to its peculiar characteristics.

Effects of 2.45-GHz microwave radiation and phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice.

Wu RY, Chiang H, Shao BJ, Li NG, Fu YD · 1994

The study used 115 Balb/c mice that were 4 weeks old, divided into control, DMH, DMH plus microwave, and DMH plus TPA groups. The microwave exposure was 2.45 GHz radiation at 10 mW/cm2 delivered dorsally in an anechoic chamber. Radiation was administered 3 hours daily, 6 days per week for 5 months, and DMH was injected once per week. Tumor incidence did not differ significantly among the three DMH treatment groups. Group D had more tumors, larger tumors, and more protuberant and infiltrative tumor types than groups B and C, and groups B and C did not differ.

Poly ADP ribosylation as a possible mechanism of microwave--biointeraction

Singh N, Rudra N, Bansal P, Mathur R, Behari J, Nayar U · 1994

Researchers exposed Twenty-three days old rats to 2.45 GHz microwaves at 1.0 mW/cm2 for sixty days and measured poly ADPR polymerase activity in various organs. The enzyme activity increased by 20% in liver and 35% in testis, while it decreased by 53% in brain diencephalon and 20% in cortex. No change was observed in spleen and kidney, and the changes were accompanied by alterations in NAD+ levels.

Cancer & Tumors128 citations

Tumor promotion in a breast cancer model by exposure to a weak alternating magnetic field

Unknown authors · 1993

DMBA was given orally at 5 mg/kg on the first day and weekly thereafter up to a total dose of 20 mg per rat. Eight weeks after DMBA application, the magnetic-field-exposed rats exhibited significantly more tumors than sham-exposed animals. At the end of the three-month exposure, tumor incidence in the exposed group was 50% higher than in the sham group, a statistically significant difference. Tumor size as estimated by palpation was also significantly larger in the magnetic-field-exposed rats compared with sham-exposed rats.

Cancer & Tumors554 citations

Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines

Unknown authors · 1993

A case-control study examined cancer incidence in children who lived within 300 meters of 220 and 400 kV power lines in Sweden from 1960 to 1985. Researchers identified 142 cancer cases, including 39 leukemia and 33 central nervous system tumor cases, and selected 558 controls from the study base. For childhood leukemia, the relative risk was 2.7 (95% CI 1.0-6.3) at 0.2 microtesla and 3.8 (95% CI 1.4-9.3) at 0.3 microtesla, with significant trends. No association was found for central nervous system tumors, lymphoma, or all childhood cancers combined.

Cancer & Tumors
Not an original health-effects study

Risk of cancer in Finnish children living close to power lines, BMJ. 1993 Oct 9;307(6909):895-9

Unknown authors · 1993

Researchers simulated cohort and case-control samples using ELF-MF exposure prevalence, childhood leukemia incidence, and confounder data from literature and existing datasets. They combined the simulated data using three methods: two-stage meta-analysis, one-stage pooling, and two-stage meta-analysis with pooling. All three methods produced estimates close to the causal estimate with no obvious overestimation or underestimation. One-stage pooling showed the widest confidence intervals but the difference was not statistically significant.

Cancer & Tumors
Not an original health-effects study

Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children, BMJ. 1993 Oct 9;307(6909):891-5

Unknown authors · 1993

Researchers simulated cohort and case-control samples using parameters from literature and existing datasets to test pooling methods for different study designs. They combined the simulated data using two-stage meta-analysis, one-stage pooling, and two-stage meta-analysis with pooling. All three methods yielded estimates close to the causal estimate with no obvious overestimation or underestimation. One-stage pooling showed the widest 95% confidence interval but the difference was not significant. The authors concluded that the performance of the three methods was not certain and further simulations are needed.

Microwave induced alteration in the neuron specific enolase gene expression.

Verma M, Dutta SK. · 1993

The study aimed to investigate microwave induced alteration in neuron specific enolase gene expression. Researchers exposed pNGE7 cells containing the neuron specific enolase gene to 915 MHz, 16 Hz AM radiation at SAR 0.05 mW/kg. Exposure resulted in elevation of neuron specific enolase, a diagnostic marker for neuron and lung cancer. Ion-exchange chromatography separated neuron specific enolase activity from non-neuronal enolase activity and showed altered expression of both.

X-rays, microwaves and vinyl chloride monomer: their clastogenic and aneugenic activity, using the micronucleus assay on human lymphocytes.

Fucic A, Garaj-Vrhovac V, Skara M, Dimitrovic B · 1992

Researchers used the micronucleus assay with a new mathematical approach to separate clastogenic from aneugenic activity of vinyl chloride monomer, X-rays, and microwaves on human somatic cells. Comparison of micronucleus size distributions in lymphocytes from exposed humans showed X-rays and microwaves were preferentially clastogens while vinyl chloride monomer showed aneugenic activity as well. The authors noted that microwaves possess some mutagenic characteristics typical of chemical mutagens.

Cancer & Tumors475 citations

Exposure to residential electric and magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukemia

Unknown authors · 1991

Researchers conducted a case-control study of 232 cases and 232 controls aged birth to 10 years in Los Angeles County from 1980 to 1987. Magnetic field measurements were taken in the child's bedroom over 24 hours or longer for 164 cases and 144 controls, and spot measurements for 140 cases and 109 controls. No clear associations were seen between leukemia risk and measured magnetic or electric fields. An association was observed between the Denver Wertheimer-Leeper wiring configuration and childhood leukemia risk with an odds ratio of 2.15. Cases were more likely than controls to report use of several appliances that produce high electric and magnetic fields.

Neoplastic transformation of C3H/10T1/2 cells following exposure to 120-Hz modulated 2.45-GHz microwaves and phorbol ester tumor promoter.

Balcer-Kubiczek EK, Harrison GH. · 1991

Researchers exposed actively growing cultures of C3H/10T1/2 cells for 24 hours to 2.45-GHz microwaves pulse-modulated at 120 Hz. The electromagnetic fields alone had no effect on cell survival or induction of neoplastic transformation. When combined with the tumor promoter TPA, the enhancement of transformation was highly significant and ranged up to a level equivalent to that produced by 1.5 Gy of X rays. The frequency of neoplastic transformation was dependent on the level of electromagnetic exposure and was additive with doses of X rays given as a cocarcinogen.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found135 citations

Leukaemia and residence near electricity transmission equipment: a case-control study

Unknown authors · 1989

Researchers conducted a population-based case-control study of leukemia and residential proximity to electricity supply equipment in south-east England. The study included 771 leukemia cases matched to 1,432 cancer controls and 231 general population controls. Exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields was assessed indirectly from the distance, type, and loading of nearby power lines and transformer substations. Only 0.6% of subjects lived within 100 m of an overhead power line, where the relative risk of leukemia was 1.45 (95% CI 0.54-3.88), rising to 2.0 within 50 m (95% CI 0.4-9.0). Over 40% of subjects lived within 100 m of a substation, with a relative risk of 0.99, and residence within 25 m carried a risk of 1.3 (95% CI 0.8-2.0).

Exposures to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields in Occupations with Elevated Leukemia Rates

Joseph D. Bowman et al. · 1988

Researchers took spot measurements of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields at 114 work sites across several electrical worker occupations and at 18 residences for comparison. Magnetic field exposures were significantly higher than residential levels in most electrical worker categories, with the highest reading of 1250 x 10^-7 Tesla on a battery-powered forklift operator. Electric field exposures exceeded residential levels in only 25% of measurements, limited to power line workers, power station operators, and TV repairers.

Cancer & Tumors727 citations

Case-control study of childhood cancer and exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields

Unknown authors · 1988

Researchers studied 356 children diagnosed with cancer between 1976 and 1983 in the Denver area and compared them with controls selected by random digit dialing. Measured magnetic fields under low power use at a 2.0 milligauss cutoff showed an odds ratio of 1.4 for total cancers, with higher odds ratios for leukemias, lymphomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. Wire configuration codes contrasting very high and high versus very low, low, and buried codes yielded an odds ratio of 1.5 for total cancers. Adjusted estimates for measured fields and wire codes did not differ from crude results, indicating an absence of confounding.

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

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.
The SYB Research Database includes 572 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.
75% of the 572 studies examining cancer & tumors found measurable biological effects from EMF exposure. This means that 431 studies documented observable changes in biological systems when exposed to electromagnetic fields. The remaining 25% either found no significant effects or had inconclusive results, which is typical in scientific research where study design and exposure parameters vary.