This PRISMA-adherent systematic review searched PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for studies (2017–2024) on physiological or behavioral responses to EMF exposure, emphasizing studies reporting harmful or concerning effects. Across 24 included studies (human non-randomized, in vitro, and animal), the review reports negative biological effects including oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity, cardiovascular and fertility-related outcomes, neuronal activity changes, and plant photosynthesis impacts. The authors report that most studies had moderate to high risk of bias and therefore the overall certainty of evidence was lower, and they highlight major gaps in long-term human evidence and exposure standardization.

This animal and in vitro study examined non-thermal 900 MHz RF-EMF exposure during prenatal and postnatal development at 0.08 and 0.4 W/kg SAR. The authors report changes consistent with altered neurodevelopment, including reduced BDNF, reduced in vivo cell proliferation, and disrupted synaptic balance in rat pup brain regions. In vitro, exposed neural stem cells showed increased apoptosis and DNA double-strand breaks and shifts in cell populations toward glial lineages. The authors conclude that regulatory-level 900 MHz exposure can disrupt key neurodevelopmental processes in rodents.

This animal ecology study reports that weak anthropogenic-like airborne electric fields can reduce honeybee floral landing rates. It reports deterrent effects for AC and positive DC fields, with no statistically significant effect for negative DC fields. The authors also report that electric fields measured near high-voltage power lines can match the levels that affected bees and extend tens of meters at foraging-relevant heights.

This paper uses advanced electromagnetic simulations of human skin microstructure to model exposure to realistic pulsed 5G/6G signals at 3.5, 27, 77, and 300 GHz. It reports localized, inhomogeneous absorption patterns linked to sweat glands and blood vessels, suggesting that treating skin as homogeneous may miss hotspots. The authors conclude that SAR-based standards may be inadequate for mmWave/sub-THz exposures and could underestimate potential risks, including possible nerve excitation.

This dosimetry study used FDTD simulations at 28 GHz to evaluate how skin stratification and anthropomorphic modeling affect absorbed power density (APD) estimates. APD was higher with stratified skin than with homogeneous skin for a wearable patch antenna (16%–30% higher), while plane-wave differences were smaller (<11%). The authors argue that simplified skin models may underestimate exposure in mmWave wearable scenarios.

This paper describes planned experimental measurements of electric and magnetic fields generated by electric vehicles during charging and driving. The abstract emphasizes that occupants can experience notable EMF exposure due to proximity to vehicle electrical systems, while stating that specific health risks in the EV context remain uncertain. It also notes that manufacturers implement technological design solutions intended to reduce exposure.

This study tested magnetic fields from tablets, laptops, smartphones, and household/leisure magnets against 13 cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) models to assess magnet mode activation. It reports that these consumer devices can trigger magnet mode when in close proximity, with median activation distances of 5–6.5 mm for phones/tablets/laptops and mainly contact-level activation for household/leisure magnets. None of the tested devices activated magnet mode at distances of 20 mm or more, and the authors emphasize patient awareness of proximity-related risk.

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.

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.

This animal study exposed Sprague-Dawley rats (including pregnant females and offspring) to 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi or mobile jammer radiation for 2 hours daily over two weeks and assessed thyroid hormones and thyroid histology. The abstract reports significant changes in T4 in exposed adult males and significant differences in T3 among male offspring exposed to jammer radiation. Histopathology reportedly showed disrupted thyroid follicular structure in exposed rats. The authors conclude these findings support a potential link between non-ionizing radiation exposure and altered thyroid endocrine and histological parameters.

This animal study exposed male Wistar rats to 900 MHz RF-EMR from a mobile phone for 1 hour daily over four weeks and assessed behavior and tissue changes. The authors report altered contextual fear conditioning-related behavior in exposed rats. Histological assessments indicated apoptosis and enlarged perivascular space in the hippocampal CA3 region and apoptotic/inflammatory-like changes in the adrenal zona fasciculata, with no reported differences in adrenal medulla cytoarchitecture.

This in vitro study exposed pig conceptuses (days 15–16 of pregnancy) to 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 2 hours and assessed transcriptomic and DNA methylation changes. The authors report altered expression of 21 protein-coding transcripts and an approximately 16-fold increase in genomic DNA methylation, with promoter methylation changes in several named genes. They conclude ELF-EMF interacts with gene expression and DNA methylation processes during early development and call for further safety research.

This animal study reports that Drosophila melanogaster larvae can sense electric fields and exhibit robust electrotaxis toward the cathode in controlled environments. The authors identify head-tip sensory neurons required for this behavior and report calcium-imaging evidence that Gr66a-positive neurons encode field strength and orientation. The work supports electrosensation as a functional sensory modality in Drosophila larvae and demonstrates measurable neural and behavioral responses to electric fields under the studied conditions.

This narrative review proposes that low-intensity microwave/lower-frequency EMFs activate plasma membrane calcium channels in animals, increasing intracellular calcium and triggering downstream signaling including oxidative stress pathways. It further suggests that EMF actions in terrestrial multicellular plants are probably similar, with plant two-pore channels proposed as plausible mediators due to a comparable voltage sensor. The abstract describes briefly reviewed plant studies as consistent with this mechanism, but does not provide detailed exposure parameters or quantitative results.