Archive
50 postsFilters: category: epidemiology Clear
Trends in Malignant and Benign Brain Tumor Incidence and Mobile Phone Use in the U.S. (2000-2021): A SEER-Based Study
This SEER-based ecological study examined U.S. trends (2000–2021) in malignant and benign brain tumor incidence and compared them with national mobile phone subscription trends. Malignant brain tumor incidence in adolescents and adults declined slightly, while benign brain tumor incidence increased over time; temporal lobe tumors and benign acoustic neuromas showed little change. The authors interpret these patterns as not supporting an association between mobile phone use and increased brain cancer risk, while recommending continued surveillance given rising benign tumor incidence and potential latency.
Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and IARC carcinogen assessment: Risk of Bias preliminary literature assessment for 10 key characteristics of human carcinogens
This review examined experimental literature on whether RF-EMF exposures within ICNIRP (2020) limits affect IARC key characteristics of human carcinogens. It identified 159 articles and found that 38% of in vitro/in vivo measurements reported statistically significant effects, but higher study quality was associated with fewer reported effects and there was no consistent exposure-response pattern. The authors state that study diversity and generally poor quality prevent high-confidence conclusions for most key characteristics, while recommending replication of the few higher-quality positive findings under stringent standards.
Influence of geomagnetic disturbances on myocardial infarctions in women and men from Brazil
This ecological analysis used a public health database of myocardial infarction admissions in São José dos Campos, Brazil (1998–2005) and categorized geomagnetic activity using the planetary Kp index. The abstract reports a higher relative frequency of MI admissions during disturbed geomagnetic conditions compared with quiet periods, with a stronger association in women. Unsupervised k-means clustering reportedly supported the sex-specific pattern.
Impact of mobile phone-emitted non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on parotid gland function: A comprehensive study
This cross-sectional study of 104 university student volunteers assessed whether mobile phone-emitted non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation is associated with changes in parotid gland-related salivary measures. The authors report higher salivary flow rate and pH with longer mobile phone usage duration, along with side-related differences in albumin, IMA, and IMAR. The paper concludes that consistent exposure to mobile phone NIER and associated heat adversely affects parotid gland function and frames this as a health risk, while calling for further long-term research.
Epidemiological criteria for causation applied to human health harms from RF-EMF exposure: Bradford Hill revisited
This paper is a commentary reviewing how Bradford Hill’s epidemiological criteria can be applied to multidisciplinary evidence on RF-EMF exposure and adverse health effects. It reports that systematic reviews and meta-analyses in this area often reach substantially different conclusions, and argues that key weaknesses in primary studies—especially exposure measurement error and insufficient time for long-latency tumors—help explain the divergence. The author suggests these limitations may cause underestimation of potential causation if the associations are truly causal, and calls for independent guidelines to improve future epidemiological research quality.
Exposure Perception and Symptom Reporting in Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance Attributed to Electromagnetic Fields Using a Co-Designed Provocation Test
This co-designed provocation study in IEI-EMF volunteers evaluated whether perceived exposure and symptom reporting tracked actual EMF exposure under double-blind conditions. The abstract reports no consistent alignment between perceived exposure certainty or symptoms and true exposure status at the group level, with limited individual exceptions. Symptom reporting was related to certainty of being exposed for about half of participants, which the authors interpret as supporting a nocebo-type mechanism and motivating refinement of provocation protocols.
Analyzing the Impact of Occupational Exposures on Male Fertility Indicators: A Machine Learning Approach
This occupational epidemiology study used machine learning to evaluate whether workplace exposures (including magnetic and electric fields, vibration, noise, and heat stress) predict male reproductive indicators in 80 workers. The models and explainable AI outputs highlighted magnetic and electric field exposures and age as key predictors linked to lower free testosterone. The authors also report a 10-year forecast identifying electric field exposure as the most important long-term risk factor.
Effect of Occupational Exposure to Low-frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Cataract Development
This cross-sectional epidemiologic study enrolled 100 employees of an electricity company to assess whether occupational low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure is associated with cataract development. Cataract frequency was higher in exposed versus non-exposed groups, and nuclear opacity grading differed significantly between groups. Within exposed workers, nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataract grades were associated with longer work experience, suggesting occupational exposure may be a risk factor, particularly for nuclear cataracts.
The association of widely used electromagnetic waves exposure and pregnancy and birth outcomes in Yazd women: a cohort study
This cohort study of 1,666 women in Yazd City examined electromagnetic-wave exposure from commonly used devices during pregnancy and birth outcomes. Longer cell phone call duration during pregnancy was reported to be associated with higher risk of miscarriage, abnormal birth weight, and abnormal newborn height. Increased cordless phone use was also reported to be linked to abnormal birth weight, while other outcomes were assessed but not described as significantly associated in the abstract.
Understanding Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) From Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation (RFR) Exposure: A Mixed-Method Study Protocol
This paper presents a mixed-method study protocol examining electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) in relation to mobile phone radiofrequency radiation exposure among undergraduate students. The quantitative component aims to identify predictors of EHS using a biopsychosocial model, while the qualitative component explores individual experiences through in-depth interviews. The abstract provides study design details and sample size but does not report study results.
Impact of expectancy on fatigue by exposure to the fifth generation of mobile communication signals
This randomized sham-controlled study in 21 healthy participants tested whether routine-level 5G RF-EMF exposure affects fatigue and EEG power, while manipulating expectancy via correct, false, or no information about exposure order. The study reports no change in EEG power with real versus sham exposure. However, self-reported fatigue varied with the conveyed information about being exposed, suggesting an expectancy/psychological priming effect on symptom reporting.
Chicken or egg? Attribution hypothesis and nocebo hypothesis to explain somatization associated to perceived RF-EMF exposure
This longitudinal cohort study examined the temporal relationship between somatization and perceived RF-EMF exposure, comparing the attribution hypothesis with the nocebo hypothesis. Using AMIGO questionnaire data from 2011 and 2015, regression analyses suggested the attribution hypothesis more often explained symptom reporting linked to perceived base station RF-EMF exposure and perceived electricity exposure than the nocebo hypothesis. The authors state this contrasts with prior literature and note that a nocebo effect is not fully excluded.
Residential exposure to magnetic field due to high-voltage power lines and childhood leukemia risk in mainland France - GEOCAP case-control study
This French GEOCAP registry-based case-control study evaluated childhood acute leukemia risk in relation to residential proximity to high-voltage overhead power lines and modeled ELF magnetic-field exposure. It reports an increased risk for children under 5 living within 50 m of power lines, particularly when restricting to high-quality geocoded addresses. However, modeled ELF-MF exposure >0.3 µT was not associated with increased risk, and the authors suggest proximity may capture other factors and call for further research and precaution.
Use of Electrical Household Appliances and Risk of All Types of Tumours: A Case-Control Study
This multi-hospital case-control study (n=316) examined associations between use of common household electrical appliances emitting ELF EMF and tumour risk. Most devices showed below-unity odds ratios, while computer screen and microwave oven use showed slightly increased odds with wide confidence intervals. Proximity to electricity transformer stations was associated with higher tumour odds, whereas proximity to powerlines was not.
Potential influence of geomagnetic activity on blood pressure statistical fluctuations at mid-magnetic latitudes
This six-year time series analysis used over 500,000 blood pressure measurements from two mid-magnetic latitude cities in China to examine associations with geomagnetic activity (Ap index). The study reports that blood pressure fluctuations correlate with geomagnetic activity and share similar periodic patterns, unlike air temperature and PM2.5. The authors conclude that high geomagnetic activity periods may increase risk for individuals with hypertension and note potential clinical and policy relevance.
Use of Mobile and Cordless Phones and the Association with Prostate Cancer
This pooled analysis of two prior human studies reports increased odds of prostate cancer associated with mobile phone use, with higher estimates for longer latency and higher cumulative hours. Cordless phone use is reported to show increased risk but not statistically significant overall, with one mid-range cumulative use category showing an elevated OR. The abstract also reports higher risks among men with more aggressive prostate cancer and among those with a family history of prostate cancer.
Could electrohypersensitivity be a specific form of high sensory processing sensitivity?
This cross-sectional questionnaire study (n=100) examined whether electrohypersensitivity (EHS) overlaps with high sensory processing sensitivity (HSPS). A higher proportion of HSPS was observed among those reporting EHS symptoms, alongside significant differences in anxiety/depression symptomatology and EMF-related risk perception and avoidance strategies. The authors interpret the results as supporting an association between EHS and HSPS, while noting that this does not establish whether EM radiation directly causes EHS symptoms.
Is Cellphone Carrying Below the Waist (Exposure to Non-Ionizing Radiation) Contributing to the Rapid Rise in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer?
This conference abstract reports a pilot matched case-control study examining whether carrying a cellphone below the waist is associated with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). The authors report higher EOCRC likelihood among those who carried phones below the waist, with the strongest association for ipsilateral carrying (same side as the tumor) and high cumulative hours. Details on exposure measurement, confounding control, and full statistical reporting are not provided in the abstract.
Prospective cohort study on non-specific symptoms, cognitive, behavioral, sleep and mental health in relation to electronic media use and transportation noise among adolescents (HERMES): study protocol
This protocol describes the third wave of the HERMES prospective adolescent cohort in Switzerland, with follow-up every four months and at one year. The study will assess electronic media use, modeled RF-EMF and transportation noise exposures, and a range of outcomes including cognition, behavior, sleep, mental health, and non-specific symptoms. A subsample will undergo personal RF-EMF measurements and accelerometer-based sleep/physical activity tracking.
The use of different exposure metrics in the research about the health impacts of electromagnetic fields
This policy brief focuses on how RF-EMF exposure should be quantified in health research, emphasizing the role of near-field sources and proposing cumulative dose (J/kg/day) as a health-relevant metric. It reports mean cumulative dose estimates of 0.29 J/kg/day for the whole body and 0.81 J/kg/day for the brain. The brief notes established RF-EMF effects (heating, microwave hearing under highly pulsed radiation, and stimulation) and discusses indications of biological effects below thermal thresholds, while stating that improved metrics do not by themselves confirm harm.
A Decision Support System for Managing Health Symptoms of Living Near Mobile Phone Base Stations
This analytical study evaluated machine learning models (SVM and Random Forest) to predict health symptoms in adults living near mobile phone base stations. The SVM model reportedly achieved high predictive performance for headache, sleep disturbance, dizziness, vertigo, and fatigue, and outperformed Random Forest and prior models. The abstract concludes that proximity to base stations is connected with increased prevalence of several symptoms and emphasizes distance, age, and duration of residence as key predictors.
The Systematic Review on RF-EMF Exposure and Cancer by Karipidis et al. (2024) has Serious Flaws that Undermine the Validity of the Study's Conclusions
This letter critiques the WHO-sponsored systematic review by Karipidis et al. (2024) on RF-EMF exposure and cancer risk. The authors argue the review has serious methodological and interpretative flaws, including issues with study selection and data analysis. They contend that the review’s conclusion of "no clear evidence" may be misleading and should not be used as a basis for health policy or safety guidelines.
Relationship between radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation from cellular phones and brain tumor: meta-analyses using various proxies for RF-EMR exposure-outcome assessment
Moon et al. (2024) report a systematic review and meta-analysis on cellular phone RF-EMR and brain tumor risk. The abstract summary states elevated risks for three brain tumor types in analyses considering ipsilateral (same-side) phone use and reports increased risk with heavy and long-term use. The text also highlights disagreement with the 2024 WHO review and raises methodological concerns about WHO conclusions.
The effects of radiofrequency exposure on male fertility: A systematic review of human observational studies with dose-response meta-analysis (SR 3)
This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis synthesizes human observational studies on radiofrequency EMF exposure and male fertility outcomes. It reports evidence of an association between RF exposure and poorer sperm parameters, including reduced quality, motility, and viability. The authors frame the findings as consistent with potential reproductive health risks and call for continued risk assessment and guideline development.
Cell phones and brain tumors: a review including the long-term epidemiologic data
This paper presents a meta-analysis of 11 peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies examining long-term (>=10 years) cell phone use with laterality analyses. It reports that long-term use is associated with an approximately doubled risk of an ipsilateral brain tumor. The abstract states statistical significance for glioma and acoustic neuroma, but not for meningioma.