The effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro: A protocol for a systematic review
Abstract
The effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro: A protocol for a systematic review Bernd Henschenmacher, Annette Bitsch, Tonia de las Heras Gala, Henry Jay Forman, Athanassios Fragoulis, Pietro Ghezzi, Rupert Kellner, Wolfgang Koch, Jens Kuhne, Dmitrij Sachno, Gernot Schmid, Katya Tsaioun, Jos Verbeek, Robert Wright. The effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro: A protocol for a systematic review. Environment International. 158, 2022, 106932. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106932. Abstract Background Oxidative stress is conjectured to be related to many diseases. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that radiofrequency fields may induce oxidative stress in various cell types and thereby compromise human and animal health. This systematic review (SR) aims to summarize and evaluate the literature related to this hypothesis. Objectives The main objective of this SR is to evaluate the associations between the exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress in experimental models (in vivo and in vitro). Methods The SR framework has been developed following the guidelines established in the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development and the Handbook for Conducting a Literature-Based Health Assessment). We will include controlled in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies that assess the effects of an exposure to RF-EMF on valid markers for oxidative stress compared to no or sham exposure. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and the EMF- Portal. The reference lists of included studies and retrieved review articles will also be manually searched. Study appraisal and synthesis method Data will be extracted according to a pre-defined set of forms developed in the DistillerSR online software and synthesized in a meta-analysis when studies are judged sufficiently similar to be combined. If a meta-analysis is not possible, we will describe the effects of the exposure in a narrative way. Risk of bias The risk of bias will be assessed with the NTP/OHAT risk of bias rating tool for human and animal studies. We will use GRADE to assess the certainty of the conclusions (high, moderate, low, or inadequate) regarding the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress. Funding This work was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO). Registration The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO webpage on July 8, 2021. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
This article describes a protocol for a systematic review to evaluate associations between RF-EMF exposure and oxidative stress markers in controlled in vivo and in vitro studies. It outlines planned search, risk-of-bias assessment, and synthesis methods, including meta-analysis when appropriate.
Outcomes measured
- Biomarkers/markers of oxidative stress
Limitations
- Protocol paper; no results or effect estimates are reported.
- Planned meta-analysis depends on included studies being sufficiently similar.
Suggested hubs
-
who-icnirp
(0.62) The protocol follows WHO guideline-development methods and is funded by WHO.
View raw extracted JSON
{
"publication_year": 2022,
"study_type": "systematic_review",
"exposure": {
"band": "RF",
"source": null,
"frequency_mhz": null,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": null
},
"population": "Experimental models (in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies)",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"Biomarkers/markers of oxidative stress"
],
"main_findings": "This article describes a protocol for a systematic review to evaluate associations between RF-EMF exposure and oxidative stress markers in controlled in vivo and in vitro studies. It outlines planned search, risk-of-bias assessment, and synthesis methods, including meta-analysis when appropriate.",
"effect_direction": "unclear",
"limitations": [
"Protocol paper; no results or effect estimates are reported.",
"Planned meta-analysis depends on included studies being sufficiently similar."
],
"evidence_strength": "high",
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"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"stance": "neutral",
"stance_confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
"summary": "This paper presents a protocol for a systematic review assessing whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields is associated with changes in oxidative stress biomarkers in controlled in vivo and in vitro studies. The authors plan database searches, standardized data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment using the NTP/OHAT tool, and GRADE certainty ratings. Results are not reported in this protocol.",
"key_points": [
"The protocol targets controlled in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies comparing RF-EMF exposure with no or sham exposure.",
"The primary outcome is valid biomarkers of oxidative stress.",
"Searches are planned in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the EMF-Portal, plus manual reference checks.",
"Data extraction is planned using predefined forms in DistillerSR.",
"Meta-analysis is planned when studies are sufficiently similar, otherwise narrative synthesis will be used.",
"Risk of bias will be assessed using the NTP/OHAT risk-of-bias rating tool for human and animal studies.",
"Certainty of evidence will be graded using GRADE.",
"The work was funded by the World Health Organization and registered in PROSPERO on July 8, 2021."
],
"categories": [
"Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses",
"RF-EMF",
"Oxidative Stress",
"Methods & Protocols"
],
"tags": [
"Systematic Review Protocol",
"Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields",
"Oxidative Stress Biomarkers",
"In Vivo Studies",
"In Vitro Studies",
"Meta-analysis Plan",
"Risk Of Bias Assessment",
"GRADE",
"PROSPERO Registration",
"WHO Funding"
],
"keywords": [
"RF-EMF",
"radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
"oxidative stress",
"biomarkers",
"systematic review",
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"in vivo",
"in vitro",
"meta-analysis",
"NTP/OHAT",
"GRADE",
"PROSPERO"
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}
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"social": {
"tweet": "New protocol outlines a WHO-funded systematic review to assess whether RF-EMF exposure is associated with changes in oxidative stress biomarkers in controlled in vivo and in vitro studies, with planned risk-of-bias assessment (NTP/OHAT) and GRADE certainty ratings.",
"facebook": "This open-access paper describes a protocol for a WHO-funded systematic review evaluating whether radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure is associated with oxidative stress biomarkers in controlled in vivo and in vitro studies. The authors detail planned searches, risk-of-bias assessment (NTP/OHAT), and GRADE certainty ratings; results are not yet reported.",
"linkedin": "Protocol paper (Environment International) details a WHO-funded systematic review plan to evaluate associations between RF-EMF exposure and oxidative stress biomarkers in controlled in vivo and in vitro studies, including database searches, NTP/OHAT risk-of-bias assessment, and GRADE certainty ratings."
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}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.
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