Archive
258 postsTowards a Planetary Health Impact Assessment Framework: Exploring Expert Knowledge & Artificial Intelligence for RF-EMF Exposure Case-Study
This paper presents a case study proposing a Planetary Health Impact Assessment (PHIA) framework for RF-EMF exposure from mobile telecommunication technologies using knowledge graphs. Twelve experts co-developed knowledge graphs to visualize potential direct effects on organisms and indirect effects on humans via ecosystem disruption, while an AI/NLP tool was used to extract and visualize literature with required expert validation. The authors highlight substantial evidence gaps on ecological impacts (e.g., pollinators, birds, plants) and emphasize the possibility of indirect health risks mediated through ecosystems.
Adverse Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on The Central Nervous System: A Review
This review argues that EMF exposure is associated in the literature with several adverse central nervous system outcomes, including blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter changes, cognitive effects, and neurodevelopmental impacts. It reports that evidence on EMFs and brain tumors is conflicting, while noting WHO’s classification of radiofrequency EMFs as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The authors highlight prenatal and childhood periods as potentially more vulnerable and call for more standardized long-term and mechanistic research to guide public health policy.
Human cells response to electromagnetic waves of radio and microwave frequencies
This review discusses how human cells may sense and respond to electromagnetic waves, focusing on radiofrequency and microwave ranges. It reports that the literature shows variable health impacts, with studies citing both potential harms and potential benefits in diagnostics and treatment (including cancer-related applications). The review highlights emerging molecular mechanisms and calls for safe, practical applications and balanced consideration in regulation.
Is It Time to Reconsider Chronic Electromagnetic Field Exposure as a Possible Risk Factor in Oral Cancer?
This review/technical note discusses whether chronic EMF exposure, mainly from mobile phones and wireless devices, should be reconsidered as a possible risk factor for oral cancer/OSCC. It highlights biological plausibility and reports from pilot cytogenetic and laboratory studies, plus limited epidemiological observations, suggesting increased micronucleus formation and altered stress responses in buccal mucosal cells among long-term users. The authors emphasize that a direct causal link to OSCC is not established and call for more comprehensive research.
Radio Frequency Exposure in Military Contexts: A Narrative Review of Thermal Effects and Safety Considerations
This narrative review focuses on RF exposure in military contexts, emphasizing thermal effects as the established mechanism of harm and discussing safety limits set by bodies such as ICNIRP and IEEE. It reports that whole-body SAR limits (≤4 W/kg) generally prevent dangerous core temperature rises, but localized heating risks may persist for tissues like skin and eyes, especially when thermoregulation is impaired. The review highlights CEM43 as a potentially useful thermal-dose metric but notes complexity for transient exposures and calls for improved models and methods across relevant frequency bands.
Effects of paternal 5G RFR exposure on health of male offspring mice
This animal study examined whether paternal exposure to 4.9 GHz (5G) radiofrequency radiation affects male offspring in C57BL/6 mice. It reports increased anxiety-like behavior and reduced sperm quality in adult F1 males from exposed fathers, alongside reported LRGUK hypermethylation and reduced LRGUK expression in testes. The abstract reports no significant effects on depression-like behavior, learning/memory, or fertility across F1–F2 generations.
DNA Damage Analysis in Blood Tissue & Physiopathological Evaluation of the Effect of Quercetin on Kidney Tissue in 2600 MHz EMF Exposure
This rat study assessed 30-day 2600 MHz EMF exposure effects on kidney tissue and DNA damage in blood lymphocytes, with an EMF+quercetin group included. Kidney histopathology and immunohistochemistry were reported as similar across groups, and oxidative stress markers did not significantly change. The EMF-only group showed significant DNA damage in lymphocytes by Comet assay.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid Preserves Testicular Integrity Under 2.45 GHz Electromagnetic Radiation by Restoring Redox and Inflammatory Balance
This animal study exposed adult male rats to 2.45 GHz electromagnetic radiation for 2 hours/day for one month and assessed testicular outcomes. The abstract reports that EMR exposure induced oxidative stress, increased inflammatory markers, and caused histological testicular injury. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation was reported to mitigate these changes and restore several testicular proteins.
Intercomparisons of computed epithelial/absorbed power density & temperature rise in anatomical human face models under localized exposures at 10 & 30 GHz
This dosimetry intercomparison evaluated epithelial/absorbed power density and temperature rise in two high-resolution anatomical human face models under localized antenna exposures at 10 and 30 GHz. The study reports a statistical correlation between spatially averaged absorbed power density and temperature rise when appropriate averaging is applied. Antenna type/configuration was identified as the dominant contributor to variability, exceeding differences from averaging methods or anatomical models.
Development and Testing of a Novel Whole-body Exposure System for Investigative Studies of Radiofrequency Radiation in Rodents (NIEHS)
This NIEHS report describes the development and testing of a flexible whole-body radiofrequency radiation exposure system for rats and mice using updated signals relevant to wireless technologies. In 5-day studies with CDMA- and GSM-modulated signals, no visible behavioral responses were observed and comet assays reported no DNA damage in multiple tissues. The report notes technical challenges, particularly difficulty obtaining reliable body temperature measurements during exposure, and positions the system as a prototype for future mechanistic toxicology studies.
The effects of electrical stimulation on neurons and glia of the central nervous system
This review synthesizes evidence on how direct current and alternating current electrical stimulation affect neurons and glia in the central nervous system, spanning basic research and clinical translation. It reports polarity- and parameter-dependent effects on axonal growth, along with immunomodulatory glial responses that may favor regeneration and enhanced myelination via OPC differentiation. The authors note early clinical applications with potential longer-term functional improvements, while emphasizing that stimulation parameters and patient context can influence risks and benefits.
Causal relationship between duration of mobile phone use and risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
This two-sample Mendelian randomization study examined whether duration of mobile phone use is causally related to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage using large European GWAS datasets. The primary MR analysis reported that excessive duration of mobile phone use was associated with higher aSAH risk, and sensitivity analyses were described as supportive. The authors conclude the findings have potential clinical, public health, and policy implications.
Personal radio use and risk of cancers among police officers in Great Britain: Results from the airwave health monitoring study
This prospective cohort analysis from the Airwave Health Monitoring Study evaluated whether occupational personal radio (TETRA) use is associated with cancer risk among 48,457 police officers and staff. Over a median 11 years of follow-up, the study reports no association with all cancers or with head/neck/CNS cancers, and no evidence of a non-linear dose-response with call duration. The authors emphasize that confidence intervals were wide and that a modestly increased risk at high usage cannot be ruled out, supporting continued monitoring.
No Measurable Impact of Acute 26 GHz 5G Exposure on Salivary Stress Markers in Healthy Adults
This triple-blind randomized study tested whether 26.5 minutes of 26 GHz (5G) RF exposure at environmental-like levels alters salivary stress biomarkers in healthy adults. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase measured before, during, and after exposure did not differ between real and sham conditions. An exploratory subgroup with frequent sampling also showed biomarker stability over time. The study addresses acute exposure only and notes the need for research on repeated or long-term exposures and vulnerable groups.
Definition and Validation of an Exposure Measurement Method for a Typical Load of a Base Station
This exposure-assessment study proposes and validates a method to measure instantaneous RF exposure under typical base station load by generating defined data rates (low/medium/high) using iPerf and measuring channel power across services. Validation at four base stations suggests the approach is reliable across different times of day and loads, with reproducible results when averaging over 30 sweeps. Comparisons indicate iPerf-provoked constant data rates generally match exposure during real application usage, with few deviations beyond stated uncertainty.
NTP Lite: The Japan-Korea Collaborative RF Exposure Toxicity Project [Health Matters]
This magazine article reviews the Japan-Korea "NTP Lite" RF animal toxicity collaboration and its relationship to prior NTP (2018) and Ramazzini Institute reports of RF-associated tumors in male rats. It notes NTP Lite used a single whole-body SAR of 4 W/kg and completed a two-year exposure phase in 2022, but final reporting is delayed with histopathology and genotoxicity work ongoing. The author highlights protocol harmonization across labs while raising concerns about unexplained animal deaths and physiological differences in exposed groups, and frames the broader evidence as supportive of RF-related cancer risk in laboratory animals.
Acoustic Pressures in the Head From Pulsed Microwaves: Can They Explain "Anomalous" Health Incidents? (Havana syndrome)
This article reviews the microwave auditory effect (perceived clicks/buzzing) that can occur when the head is exposed to pulsed microwave energy, such as from radar. It explores whether this phenomenon could plausibly explain reported “anomalous health incidents” (Havana syndrome), noting that experts and formal panels have suggested it as a possible explanation. The authors emphasize that potential links between pulsed microwave exposures, audible sensations, and other physiological impacts warrant careful consideration and further research.
Assessment of Electromagnetic Field Exposure from Multiple Sources Simultaneously in the High- Frequency Range Based on Safety Standards
This conference paper proposes a method to assess combined EMF exposure from multiple simultaneous high-frequency sources using a normalized exposure ratio based on ICNIRP 2020 guidelines. It emphasizes a current gap in standardized absorbed power density (Sab) measurement above 10 GHz and proposes incident power density (Sinc) as a temporary surrogate. The work is framed as supporting compliance verification and safety measure design, with a stated need for future experimental validation and standardization.
Model Variability in Assessment of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields
This review examines how variability in computational dosimetry models affects assessment of human RF exposure from MHz to terahertz frequencies, focusing on SAR, absorbed power density, and temperature rise. It reports that anatomical scaling and model choices can drive meaningful differences in predicted SAR (including higher values in children/smaller models), while temperature-rise predictions are especially sensitive to thermophysiological parameters and vascular modeling. The authors indicate that computed variability remains within ICNIRP/IEEE safety margins but argue that uncertainties warrant ongoing research and refinement as new technologies (e.g., 6G) emerge.
Time-Dependence Effect of 2.45 GHz RF-EMR Exposure on Male Reproductive Hormones and LHCGR
This animal study exposed male Sprague Dawley rats to 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi for varying daily durations over eight weeks and assessed reproductive hormones and LHCGR expression. Serum LH and testosterone did not differ significantly from controls, but LHCGR mRNA increased with longer exposure and LHCGR protein showed decreases with shorter exposures with partial improvement at 24 hours/day. The findings suggest molecular alterations in testicular tissue despite stable systemic hormone levels.
From adults to offspring: Wi-Fi RF-EMR exposure in adult zebrafish impairs reproduction and transgenerationally effects development and behavior of progeny
This animal study examined Wi-Fi RF-EMR exposure in adult zebrafish (4 hours/day for 30 days) and assessed reproductive tissues and offspring outcomes. The abstract reports testicular and ovarian histopathological abnormalities in exposed adults. Offspring from exposed parents, maintained under EMF-free conditions, reportedly showed increased mortality, morphological abnormalities, and anxiety-like behavior, with malformations increasing with longer parental exposure.
Modeling the interplay between myelin architecture and local electromagnetic fields
This engineering/modeling study developed a 3D myelin microstructure model using finite element analysis and high-resolution imaging to simulate local electromagnetic field distributions. It reports that myelin architecture substantially shapes the distribution of electromagnetic fields across neural tissues. The authors suggest these field variations could potentially serve as non-invasive indicators of myelin integrity and may support tracking neurodegenerative disease progression.
Electrical oscillations in microtubules
This study introduces a multi-scale electrokinetic model to characterize electrical impulses and ionic current propagation along microtubules, incorporating atomistic protein details and biological environments. It emphasizes nanopore-mediated coupling between microtubule surfaces as a key mechanism enabling luminal currents, energy transfer, amplification, and oscillatory dynamics. The authors report pharmacological inhibition experiments (Taxol and Gd3+) supporting the interpretation that nanopores function as active nanogates contributing to transistor-like behavior.
Role of visual and non-visual opsins in blue light-induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster
This animal study used Drosophila knockout lines to examine whether visual (Rh1) versus non-visual (Rh7) opsins contribute to blue-light-associated neural damage. Flies were continuously exposed to 488 nm blue light from egg deposition to 20 days, and brain DNA damage and vacuolisation were assessed. The study reports greater DNA damage and neurodegeneration markers in Rh1 knockout flies than in wild-type or Rh7 knockout flies, and concludes Rh1 is a predominant mediator of blue-light-induced neurotoxicity in the fly CNS.
Non-thermal biological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation: Mechanistic insights into male reproductive vulnerability in the era of ubiquitous exposure
This narrative review discusses proposed non-thermal mechanisms by which chronic, low-intensity RF-EMR from ubiquitous wireless sources may affect male reproductive health. It highlights oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired testosterone synthesis/steroidogenesis, and declines in sperm quality as reported outcomes. The authors argue that current SAR/thermal-based guidelines may not capture these endpoints and call for updated standards and precautionary measures.