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 & TumorsNo Effects Found

Risk of neuroblastoma, maternal characteristics and perinatal exposures: The SETIL study.

Parodi S et al. · 2014

The SETIL study included 1044 healthy controls and 153 neuroblastoma cases diagnosed between 1998 and 2001. Researchers used a structured questionnaire to collect information on maternal characteristics, reproductive history, and environmental and occupational exposures during pregnancy. They measured extremely low frequency magnetic field home exposure. The study found a twofold risk associated with pregnancy exposure to chemical products for domestic work and hair dye. Risk was increased for preconception maternal exposure to solvents and particularly aromatic hydrocarbons.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

The incidence rate and mortality of malignant brain tumors after 10 years of intensive cell phone use in Taiwan.

Hsu MH et al. · 2014

Researchers conducted a population-based study using cancer registry data from 2000 to 2009 and cell phone user statistics from the National Communication Commission. The National Cancer Registry recorded 4 incidences and 4 deaths due to malignant neoplasms in Taiwan during 2000-2009. Ten years of observational data showed no significant effect of intensive cell phone use on the incidence rate or mortality of malignant brain tumors in Taiwan. The authors concluded they detected no correlation between cell phone use and malignant brain tumor morbidity or mortality in Taiwan.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields From Broadcast Transmitters and Risk of Childhood Cancer: A Census-based Cohort Study.

Hauri DD et al. · 2014

Researchers conducted a time-to-event analysis of children under 16 living in Switzerland on December 5, 2000, with follow-up until December 31, 2008. They also included an incidence density cohort of all children living in Switzerland for some time between 1985 and 2008. In the time-to-event analysis of 997 cancer cases, the adjusted hazard ratio for the highest exposure category was 1.03 for all cancers, 0.55 for childhood leukemia, and 1.68 for childhood CNS tumors. The incidence density analysis of 4,246 cancer cases showed similar results for all cancers and leukemia but did not indicate a CNS tumor risk, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.03.

Mobile phones, non-ionizing radiofrequency fieldsand brain cancer: is there an adaptive response?

Vijayalaxmi, Prihoda TJ. · 2014

The study aimed to investigate whether mobile phone radiofrequency fields and brain cancer show an adaptive response. The authors re-examined all odds ratios from the INTERPHONE study published in 2011. Their analysis showed 24.3% decreased and 0.7% increased risk for meningioma and 22.1% decreased and 6.6% increased risk for glioma. They hypothesized that the overwhelming evidence for decreased risk may be due to induction of an adaptive response.

Cell and cordless phone risk for glioma - Analysis of pooled case-control studies in Sweden, 1997-2003 and 2007-2009

Hardell L, Carlberg M, · 2014

In total, 1498 cases (89% participation) and 3530 controls (87% participation) were included. Mobile phone use increased glioma risk with an overall odds ratio of 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.6), rising to 3.0 (95% CI 1.7–5.2) for latency over 25 years. Cordless phone use increased glioma risk with an overall odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI 1.1–1.7), with highest risk in the >15–20 years latency group (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.5). Ipsilateral mobile phone use had an odds ratio of 1.8 (95% CI 1.4–2.2) and ipsilateral cordless phone use had an odds ratio of 1.7 (95% CI 1.3–2.1). The highest risk was for glioma in the temporal lobe, and first use before age 20 gave higher odds ratios than later first use.

Decreased Survival of Glioma Patients with Astrocytoma Grade IV (Glioblastoma Multiforme) Associated with Long-Term Use of Mobile and Cordless Phones.

Carlberg M, Hardell L. · 2014

Researchers analyzed survival of 1678 glioma patients from the 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 case-control studies. Wireless phone use with more than 20 years latency showed an increased hazard ratio of 1.7 for glioma overall. For glioblastoma multiforme, mobile phone use had a hazard ratio of 2.0 and cordless phone use a hazard ratio of 3.4 in the same latency category.

Connection between Cell Phone use, p53 Gene Expression in Different Zones of Glioblastoma Multiforme and Survival Prognoses.

Akhavan-Sigari R, Baf MM, Ariabod V, Rohde V, Rahighi S. · 2014

Researchers studied sixty-three glioblastoma patients who underwent tumor resection between 2008 and 2011. They measured p53 gene expression in central and peripheral tumor zones using RT-PCR. Among patients using cell phones three or more hours daily, 65% showed higher mutant p53 expression in the peripheral zone, a statistically significant increase. This increased mutant p53 expression was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival. The risk was not higher for ipsilateral exposure.

Impact of head morphology on local brain specific absorption rate from exposure to mobile phone radiation.

Adibzadeh F et al. · 2014

Researchers performed detailed dosimetric simulations for 20 head models to quantify how head morphology affects RF dose in different brain regions. The variation in averaged SAR among heads reached up to 16.4 dB in a 1 cm³ brain cube using the field-sensor method and up to 15.8 dB in the medulla using the Talairach method. Head models were exposed to generic mobile phone fields at 835 and 1900 MHz in tilted and cheek positions. The authors concluded that head morphology is an important uncertainty source and that dosimetric analyses for specific brain regions should use real morphology.

Mobile Phone Radiation Alters Proliferation of Hepatocarcinoma Cells.

Ozgur E, Guler G, Kismali G, Seyhan N · 2014

Researchers exposed Hep G2 hepatocarcinoma cells to intermittent 900- and 1800-MHz radiofrequency radiation at a specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg for 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours. Cell viability changed according to the frequency and duration of the exposure. Four-hour exposure produced more pronounced effects than shorter durations. 1800-MHz radiation had a larger impact on cell viability and injury than 900-MHz radiation. Morphological analysis showed irregular nuclei and DNA damage after 4 hours of 1800-MHz exposure.

Selenium Reduces Mobile Phone (900 MHz)-Induced Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Function, and Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells.

Kahya MC, Nazıroğlu M, Ciğ B. · 2014

Researchers studied the effects of 900 MHz radiation on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial depolarization in a breast cancer cell line. Cells were exposed to 900 MHz radiation for 1 hour at a SAR value of 0.36 ± 0.02 W/kg, and some groups were also incubated with sodium selenite before exposure.

Effects of microwave exposure and Gemcitabine treatment on apoptotic activity in Burkitt's lymphoma (Raji) cells.

Canseven AG, Esmekaya MA, Kayhan H, Tuysuz MZ, Seyhan N. · 2014

Raji cells were exposed to microwave radiation at a specific absorption rate of 0.350 W/kg for 24 hours. Microwave exposure alone significantly increased apoptotic activity and significantly decreased cell viability, and combined exposure with Gemcitabine increased apoptotic cells further than microwave radiation alone.

Extra-low-frequency magnetic fields alter cancer cells through metabolic restriction

Ying Li and Paul Heroux · 2014

Researchers exposed five cancer cell lines to extra-low-frequency magnetic fields in the range of 0.025 to 5 µT and examined them for karyotype changes after 6 days. All cancer cell lines lost chromosomes from magnetic field exposure, with a mostly flat dose-response. The researchers suggest these karyotype contractions are caused by magnetic field interference with mitochondria's adenosine triphosphate synthase, compensated by the action of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Constant magnetic field exposures for three weeks allowed a rising return to baseline, unperturbed karyotypes, but small increases or decreases in field strength were again capable of inducing karyotype contractions.

(2013) Multifocal breast cancer in young women with prolonged contact between their breasts and their cellular phones

West et al · 2013

Researchers reported a case series of four young women aged 21 to 39 with multifocal invasive breast cancer. All patients regularly carried smartphones directly against their breasts in their brassieres for up to 10 hours a day over several years and developed tumors in the breast areas immediately underlying the phones. Pathology showed that all tumors were hormone-positive, low-intermediate grade, had an extensive intraductal component, and shared near identical morphology.

(2013) Pooled analysis of case-control studies on acoustic neuroma diagnosed 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 and use of mobile and cordless phones

Hardell et al · 2013

Researchers pooled data from both study periods of acoustic neuroma, including 316 cases and 3,530 controls. Unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, year of diagnosis, and socio-economic index. Analogue mobile phone use gave an odds ratio of 2.9, which increased to 7.7 with latency greater than 20 years. Digital 2G mobile phone use gave an odds ratio of 1.5, increasing to 1.8 with latency over 15 years. Cordless phone use gave an odds ratio of 1.5, rising to 6.5 with latency over 20 years.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic field enhances the therapeutic efficacy of low-dose cisplatin in the treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma

Unknown authors · 2013

The study examined the therapeutic efficacy of low-dose cisplatin followed by exposure to a 10 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field on Ehrlich carcinoma in vivo. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects were assessed using comet assay, mitotic index, and micronucleus induction, and tumor growth inhibition was also measured. Mice receiving both cisplatin and the magnetic field showed a 54% increase in damaged cells, and tumor growth at day 12 was significantly suppressed in all treatment groups compared with controls.

Cancer & Tumors
Not an original health-effects study

New Zealand adolescents' cellphone and cordless phone user-habits: are they at increased risk of brain tumours already? A cross-sectional study.

Redmayne M · 2013

The cross-sectional study recruited 373 Year 7 and 8 students with a mean age of 12.3 years from the Wellington region of New Zealand. Participants completed a questionnaire and measured their normal body-to-phone texting distances. Both cellphones and cordless phones were used by approximately 90% of students. A third of participants had already used a cordless phone for ≥ 7 years. High cellphone use was related to cellphone location at night, being woken regularly, and being tired at school.

Cancer & TumorsNo Effects Found

Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Skin Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark.

Poulsen AH et al. · 2013

Researchers followed 355,701 private mobile phone subscribers in Denmark from 1987 to 1995 through 2007. No overall increased risk was observed for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma of the head and neck. After at least 13 years of follow-up, incidence rate ratios for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma remained near unity.

Cancer & Tumors163 citations

Case-control study of the association between malignant brain tumours diagnosed between 2007 and 2009 and mobile and cordless phone use.

Hardell L, Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Mild KH. · 2013

Researchers conducted a case-control study of brain tumour cases aged 18-75 diagnosed from 2007 to 2009, with one population-based control matched on gender and age per case. Among malignant brain tumour cases, 87% participated, and 85% of controls answered the questionnaire. Analogue mobile phone use had an odds ratio of 1.8, which increased to 3.3 with more than 25 years of latency. Digital 2G mobile phone use showed an odds ratio of 1.6, rising to 2.1 with latency over 15-20 years. Cordless phone use had an odds ratio of 1.7, increasing to 2.1 with 15-20 years latency.

Environmental risk factors for cancers of the brain and nervous system: the use of ecological data to generate hypotheses.

de Vocht F, Hannam K, Buchan I. · 2013

Researchers used open-access databases to explore links between potential risk factors and brain and nervous system cancers at an ecological level across 165 countries. National age-adjusted cancer incidence rates from GLOBOCAN 2008 were combined with United Nations Development Report and World Bank data and analyzed using multivariate regression models. 2008 national incidences of brain and nervous system cancers were associated with continent, gross national income in 2008 and Human Development Index Score. The only exogenous risk factor consistently associated with higher incidence was mobile/cellular telecommunications subscription penetration. According to these ecological results the latency period is at least 11-12 years, but probably more than 20 years.

Meningioma patients diagnosed 2007--2009 and the association with use of mobile and cordless phones: a case--control study.

Carlberg M, Söderqvist F, Hansson Mild K, Hardell L. · 2013

The study included 709 meningioma cases diagnosed during 2007-2009 and 1,368 control subjects who answered a questionnaire. Mobile phone use overall gave an odds ratio of 1.0 (95% CI 0.7-1.4) and cordless phone use gave 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.5). Risk increased significantly per 100 hours of cumulative use, with the highest odds ratio in the fourth quartile (>2,376 hours). No statistically significant increased risk was found for ipsilateral use, temporal lobe tumors, or per year of latency. Tumor volume was not related to latency or cumulative use.

Cancer & Tumors184 citations

Mobile phone use and risk of brain neoplasms and other cancers: prospective study

Benson VS et al. · 2013

Researchers examined the relation between mobile phone use and incidence of intracranial CNS tumours and other cancers in 791,710 middle-aged women in the UK Million Women Study. During 7 years' follow-up, 51,680 incident invasive cancers and 1,261 incident intracranial CNS tumours occurred. Risk among ever versus never users was not increased for all intracranial CNS tumours (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.90-1.14, P = 0.82) nor for cancer at 18 other specified sites. For long-term users compared with never users, there was no appreciable association for glioma (10+ years: RR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.55-1.10, P = 0.16) or meningioma (10+ years: RR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.66-1.84, P = 0.71).

[Inhibitory effect of microwave radiation on proliferation of human pancreatic cancer JF305 cells and its mechanism].

Zhu W, Zhang W, Li Y, Xu J, Luo J, Jiang Y, Lu X, Lü S. · 2013

Researchers investigated the effect of 2450 MHz microwave radiation at intensities of 2.5 to 20.0 mW/cm2 for 20 minutes on human pancreatic cancer JF305 cells. Proliferation was measured by MTT assays, apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC and PI staining, Caspase-3 activity was examined, and Caspase-3 and HSP70 protein expression were detected by Western blotting. After radiation, proliferation inhibition rates were significantly higher than control and apoptosis was induced. Caspase-3 activity increased compared with control (P < 0.05), and Caspase-3 and HSP70 protein expression increased significantly across dosage groups. The researchers concluded that microwave radiation inhibits JF305 cell proliferation, possibly by inducing apoptosis through changes in stress level.

Studying the protein expression in human B lymphoblastoid cells exposed to 1.8-GHz (GSM) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) with protein microarray.

Zhijian C et al. · 2013

The study used protein microarray to examine protein expression in human B lymphoblastoid cells intermittently exposed to 1.8-GHz GSM radiofrequency radiation at a specific absorption rate of 2.0 W/kg for 24 hours. The analysis identified 27 differentially expressed proteins associated with DNA damage repair, apoptosis, oncogenesis, cell cycle, and proliferation, with a fold change greater than 1.5 and P<0.05. Western blot validation confirmed that RPA32 expression was significantly down-regulated and p73 expression was significantly up-regulated in the exposed group (P<0.05).

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.