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.

This narrative review argues that non-thermal biological effects of extremely low and microwave frequency EMFs may be mediated by activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). It cites 23 studies in which VGCC blockers reportedly block or reduce diverse EMF effects and proposes downstream Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide signaling. The review discusses both potential therapeutic effects (e.g., bone growth stimulation) and potential adverse effects via oxidative stress pathways, including a reviewed example of DNA single-strand breaks.

This review discusses the comet assay and summarizes research on non-ionizing EMF exposure and DNA/chromosomal damage. It describes both positive and negative findings across studies, noting no consistent overall pattern for radiofrequency radiation (RFR). The authors nonetheless conclude that under certain exposure conditions RFR appears genotoxic and may affect DNA damage and repair, with evidence discussed as most applicable to exposures typical of cell phone use.

This narrative review discusses potential public health consequences of widespread mobile phone use and the controversy around long-term cancer risks. It states that evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies suggests long-term exposure to mobile phone emissions may be linked to a small to moderate increased risk of certain cancers, while also emphasizing that data are insufficient for a final risk assessment. The author argues that even small risks could matter at the population level and that exposure-reduction measures may be indicated given uncertainties.

This review discusses reports of headaches occurring with hand-held cellular telephone use and argues they are likely real and attributable to telephone emissions. It points to earlier reports of headaches from low-intensity microwave exposure and proposes biological plausibility via effects on the blood-brain barrier and dopamine-opiate systems. The author raises the possibility that such headaches could signal biologically significant effects.