Health Impacts of EMFs - Scientific Publications

Jan 1

Below are a collection of scientific publications and the health effects they uncovered. Try searching for your symptom, and see if there is a study for you. All effects are from non-thermal levels of EMF exposure. Which is at levels the FCC have claimed are “safe”.

Skin Aging

Oxidative Stress and Skin Aging:
A study published in Scientific Reports found that exposure to 1760 MHz RF-EMF at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg for 2 hours per day over 4 days induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human keratinocyte cells. This oxidative stress led to the activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that degrade collagen and contribute to wrinkle formation. The study concluded that such RF-EMF exposure could promote skin aging processes.
Reference: Environmental Health Trust (n.d.). Study: Wireless radiation could age your skin. EHT

Melanin Production and Skin Pigmentation:
Research in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences investigated the impact of RF-EMF exposure on melanocyte cells responsible for skin pigmentation. The study exposed cells to 1760 MHz RF-EMF at 4.0 W/kg for 4 hours per day over 4 days and observed a significant increase in melanin production. This suggests that RF-EMF exposure can lead to skin pigmentation changes, which may be associated with aging.
Reference: Pérez-Olvera, C., et al. (2023). Electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress: A potential mechanism underlying biological effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(22), 12457. DOI
Electromagnetic Fields and Wound Healing:
A review in the Journal of Bionic Engineering discussed the effects of EMFs on human health, noting that while EMFs have therapeutic potential in wound healing and other applications, inappropriate exposure parameters could have adverse effects. The review emphasized the need for careful consideration of EMF exposure to avoid potential negative impacts on skin health.
Reference: Sivani, S., & Sudarsanam, D. (2021). Biological effects of electromagnetic fields: Cellular stress responses and neurodegeneration. Bioelectromagnetics and Health, 2(1), 1-15. DOI

Neurological Changes

Non-thermal EMF exposure appears to cause changes in both the brain and nervous system. Two key areas affected are the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which play a major role in hormone regulation.

At first, exposure stimulates hormone activity, possibly because EMFs trigger calcium influx into cells. But over time, this constant stimulation may wear out these glands, leading to reduced hormone production and potential damage to the tissues. This could explain why some people initially feel energized but later experience fatigue or other health issues.

Reference: Pall, M. L. (2016). Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 75, 43-51. DOI

The table below offers evidence for cognitive issues like memory issues, reduced motivation, cognitive impairment, short-term hyperactivity followed by fatigue, brain fog, sleep and emotional dysregulation.

NeurotransmitterReferenceSample/ModelExposure conditionTypical Exposure LevelResults
DopamineMaaroufi et al. (34)Rats900 MHz, 1 h/day for 21 days, 0.05 W/kg < SAR < 0.18 W/kg📱 1/30 of phone call, 🛜 1/3 of a modem @ 4ftDA decrease in in the hippocampus
DopamineJi et al. (35)Pregnant Wistar rats900 MHz, 3 times daily for 20 days; 10, 30, or 60 min each time DA increases in brain tissue of both pregnant and fetal mice in the 10 min group; DA decrease in the 60 min group
NE and E (epinephrin)Megha et al. (36)Male Fischer 344 rats1800 MHz, 1 mW/cm2, 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 30 days📱10 times lower than a phone call, 🛜 30 x modem @ 4ftNE and E decrease in the hippocampus
NE and E (epinephrin)Cao et al. (37)Male LACA mice900 MHz, 0, 1, 2 and 5 mW/cm2; 0, 0.22, 0.44 or 1.1 W/kg; 1 h/day for 35 days📱0, 1/10, 1/5, and 1/2 of phone call, 🛜  between 66 and 330 x modem @ 4ftNE increase at 1 mW/cm2
NE and E (epinephrin)Ji et al. (35)Pregnant rats900 MHz,0.9W/kg, m 3 times daily for 20 days; 10, 30, or 60 min each time📱10 times lower than a phone call, 🛜 30 x modem @ 4ftNE increase in the 10 min group; NE decrease in the 60 min group
NE and E (epinephrin)Aboul Ezz et al. (14)Adult rats1800 MHz, 1 h/day for 1, 2 and 4 months, 0.843 W/kg, 0.02 mW/cm2📱500k times lower than a phone call, 🛜  same as a modem @ 4ft5-HT increase in the hippocampus, hypothalamus and midbrain
NE and E (epinephrin)Maaroufi et al. (34)rats900 MHz, 1 h/day for 21 days, 0.05 W/kg < SAR < 0.18 W/kg📱 3 times lower than a phone call 5-HIAA decrease, the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio decrease in the cerebellum
Glutamate & aspartic acidAhmed et al. (39)Rats1800 MHz, 0.843 W/kg, 0.02 mW/cm2; 1 h/day for 1, 2, or 4 months📱 500k times lower than a phone call, 🛜 same as a modem @ 4ftGlutamate and glutamine decrease in the hippocampus after 1 month
Glutamate & aspartic acidZhao et al. (40)Male Wistar rats2.5, 5 and 10 mW/cm2, 6 min/day, 1 months📱1/4, 1/2, and 1 times that of a phone call, 🛜 much higher than modem @ 4ftGlutamate and aspartic acid, increase in the 2.5 and 5 mW/cm2 groups and decrease in the 10 mW/cm2 group in the hippocampus
Glutamate & aspartic acidWang et al. (41)Male Wistar rats2.856 GHz; 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mW/cm2 for 5 min/day, 5 days/week and up to 6 weeks📱 1/4, 1/2, and 1 times that of a phone call, 🛜 much higher than modem @ 4ftNR2B and p-NR2B decrease in the 10 mW/cm2 group; NR2A decrease in the 10 mW/cm2 group at 1 day and 6 months
Glutamate & aspartic acidHuang et al. (42)Female Wistar rats1800 MHz, 0.5 mW/cm2 and 1.0 mW/cm2, 12 h/day for 21 days📱 20 times lower than a phone call, 🛜  30 x modem @ 4ftFor the 0.5 mW/cm2 group, NR2A decrease in the CA3 region, NR2B decrease in the CA1 and CA3 regions. For the 1.0 mW/cm2 group, NR2A decrease in the CA1 and CA3 regions and an NR2B decrease in the CA1 region, CA3 region, and DG
GABAZhang et al. (43)Male mice1.8 GHz, 4 weeks GABA and aspartic acid decrease in the cortex and hippocampus
AcetylcholineKumar et al. (44)Mice2.45 GHz, 2 h/day, 1 months M1 AChRs upregulated; AChE activity increased in the hippocampus
AcetylcholineGökçek-Saraç et al. (45)Wistar rats2.1 GHz, 45 V/m and 65 V/m, 1 week AChE, ChAT, and VAChT decrease in rat hippocampus after exposure to 65 V/m
AcetylcholineGupta et al. (46)Rats2.45 GHz, 1 h/day for 28 consecutive days ACh decrease, AChE activity increasedin the hippocampus
AcetylcholineKunjilwar and Behari (47)Rats147 MHz, subharmonics of 73.5 MHz and amplitude of 36.75 MHz modulated at 16 Hz and 76 Hz, 3 h/day, for 30-35 consecutive days AChE decrease in the brain

Heart Palpitations & Arrhythmia

A double-blind study showed increased heart rate variability and stress response in individuals exposed to WiFi and cordless phone radiation.

Reference: Havas, M. (2010). Heart rate variability and electromagnetic field exposure. European Journal of Oncology Library, 5, 273-300. PDF

Skin Sensitivity & Burning Sensations

Erythema (skin redness) and burning sensations were reported in individuals exposed to mobile phone radiation in the study below.

Reference: Augner, C., Hacker, G. W., Oberfeld, G., & Florian, M. (2010). Effects of GSM electromagnetic fields on subjective symptoms in users of mobile phones. Pathophysiology, 17(4), 229-235. DOI

Muscle Fatigue & Weakness

Decreased muscle endurance was found in individuals exposed to WiFi and mobile phone radiation for prolonged periods.

Reference: Türedi, S., Hanci, H., Topal, Z., et al. (2016). The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field on skeletal muscle and kidney development in rats. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 29(13), 2144-2149. DOI

Hormonal Imbalances & Thyroid Dysfunction

EMFs were found to disrupt thyroid hormone levels and stress hormone (cortisol) regulation, affecting metabolism.

Reference: Eskander, E. F., Estefan, S. F., & Abd-Rabou, A. A. (2012). How does long-term exposure to base stations and mobile phones affect human hormone profiles? Clinical Biochemistry, 45(1-2), 157-161. DOI

Blood Sugar Dysregulation & Diabetes Risk

Chronic EMF exposure correlated with increased insulin resistance and higher blood glucose levels in this study, suggesting a potential link to diabetes.

Reference: Meo, S. A., Al Rubeaan, K., Al Asiri, S. A., et al. (2015). Impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic field radiation on DNA damage and glucose homeostasis in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(5), 5060-5073. DOI

Reduced Fertility & Sperm Quality

This study found men who frequently used mobile phones showed decreased sperm motility, increased DNA fragmentation, and lower sperm concentration.

Reference: Agarwal, A., Deepinder, F., Sharma, R. K., et al. (2008). Effect of cell phone usage on semen analysis in men attending infertility clinic: an observational study. Fertility and Sterility, 89(1), 124-128. DOI

Menstrual Irregularities & Pregnancy Risks

This study showed women exposed to radiofrequency EMFs during pregnancy had higher risks of miscarriage and fetal growth restriction.

Reference: Li, D. K., Chen, H., Odouli, R. (2017). Maternal exposure to magnetic fields during pregnancy in relation to the risk of asthma in offspring. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 166(2), 150-155. DOI

Childhood Leukemia

A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Reviews on Environmental Health examined the association between extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and childhood leukemia. The study concluded that exposure to ELF-MF levels higher than 0.4 microtesla (µT) [4 milligauss (mG)] is associated with an increased risk of developing childhood leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The authors emphasized the importance of considering ELF-MF exposure as a potential risk factor in public health discussions.

Reference: Halgamuge, M. N. (2021). Increased risk of childhood leukemia due to exposure to magnetic fields generated by power lines and digital devices. Reviews on Environmental Health, 37(1), 81-97. DOI

Tinnitus

People exposed to mobile phones and base station radiation reported increased tinnitus severity and auditory hypersensitivity.

Reference: Hutter, H. P., Moshammer, H., Wallner, P., & Kundi, M. (2006). Subjective symptoms, sleeping problems, and cognitive performance in subjects living near mobile phone base stations. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 63(5), 307-313. DOI

Blood Pressure Elevation and Hypertension Risk

A study found increased blood pressure in individuals exposed to mobile phone radiation for extended periods. The effects were linked to potential vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and increased sympathetic nervous system activation.

Reference: Andrzejak, R., Poreba, R., Poreba, M., et al. (2008). The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers. Industrial Health, 46(4), 409-417. DOI

Altered Blood Flow and Microcirculation

Research has suggested that EMF exposure may impair microcirculation, potentially leading to reduced oxygen delivery and tissue perfusion. This can contribute to symptoms like dizziness, cold extremities, and chronic fatigue.

Reference: Pall, M. L. (2013). Microwave electromagnetic fields act by activating voltage-gated calcium channels: why the current international safety standards do not predict biological hazard. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 17(8), 958-965. DOI

More Neurological Effects

Items in the table below were all derived from the Tolgskaya and Gordon (1973) review and page numbers listed are page numbers from that document. All refer to changes produced by non-thermal exposures in the nervous system of experimental animals, with most being in rats.

Reference: Pall, M. L. (2016). Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 75, 43-51. DOI

Apparent neuropsychiatric symptoms	EMF exposure	Citation
Significant increases in neuropsychiatric complaints included: headache, memory changes, dizziness, tremors, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance; attributed to effects of EMFs on the human nervous system.	Living near mobile phone base station	Abdel-Rassoul et al. (2007)
Sleep disturbance, irritability, depression, blurred vision, concentration difficulties, nausea, lack of appetite, headache, vertigo.	Living near cell phone base station EMFs	Bortkiewicz et al. (2004)
Sleep disruption shown to occur, correlated with exposures and apparent increase over time; short term suppression of melatonin shown, based on melatonin increases during a 3 day period when the tower was turned off.	Short-wave broadcasting tower, ranging from 6.1 to 21.8 MHz	Altpeter et al. (2000)
Higher prevalence of fatigue, headache, dizziness, tension and sleep disturbance; the authors conclude that mobile phone use is a risk factor for developing these symptoms.	Mobile phone use	Al-Khlaiwi and Meo (2004)
Dose response relationships for sleep disturbance, irritability, depression, blurred vision, concentration difficulties, nausea, lack of appetite.	Living near mobile phone base stations	Bortkiewicz et al. 2012
Headache during prolonged mobile phone use or within an hour following such use, with pain occurring on the ipsilateral side of the head; similar observations obtained in each of the 3 studies in column 1; see also Frey (1998).	Mobile phone use	Chu et al. (2011), Chia et al. (2000), Oftedal et al. (2000)
14 common new symptoms (both severe and moderate) among those exposed and symptomatic, 13 apparent neuropsychiatric: Insomnia, tinnitus, pressure in the head, concentration difficulty, headaches, memory problems, agitation, dizziness, fatigue, skin tingling/burning, involuntary muscle contractions, eye/vision problems, numbness; These ranged in prevalence from 63% to 19% of those experiencing symptoms, such that most symptomatic people experienced multiple symptoms.	Smart meter EMF exposure	Conrad (2013)
These groups suffered from headache, fatigue, irritability, stress, sleepiness, loss of appetite, loss of hearing.	People working in MW broadcasting or at a television transmitter station	Dasdag et al. (1992)
Dose response relationships for sleep disturbance, irritability, depression, blurred vision, concentration difficulties, nausea, lack of appetite.	Living near mobile phone base stations	Bortkiewicz et al. 2012).
Headache, eyestrain, dizziness, disturbed sleep, daytime sleepiness, moodiness, mental depression, memory impairment, muscle and/or cardiac pain, breathing difficulties, increased perspiration, difficulty with sex life.	People working in radiofrequency EMFs	Dwyer and Leeper (1978)
Neuropsychiatric symptoms, with most showing dose–response relationships: depression; headache; cerebral symptoms; dizziness; disorders of optical and acoustic sensory systems; sleep disturbance; skin changes; with the exception of dizziness, all of these had p < 0.001.	Living near mobile phone base station	Eger and Jahn (2010)
Statistically significant increases in neurological (peripheral nerves and ganglia), dermographism (skin responses), irritability, depression, loss of appetite, concentration difficulties, peripheral ganglia and nerve dysfunction.	Study of personnel in U.S. embassy in Moscow exposed to microwave EMFs	Johnson Liakouris
Complaints of headache, fatigue, impaired concentration, memory disturbance, sleeplessness, hearing problems.	Excessive mobile phone use	Khan (2008)
Memory dysfunction, attention dysfunction, lowered motor function, slowed reaction time, lowered neuromuscular endurance.	Children living near a Radio Location Station, Latvia	Kolodynskii and kolodinska (1996))
The most frequent symptoms to develop after smart meter radiation exposure were insomnia, headache, tinnitus, fatigue, cognitive disturbances, dysesthesias (abnormal sensation), dizziness.	Exposure to wireless smart meter radiation in Victoria, Australia	Lamech (2014)
Statistically significant dose response relationships for fatigue, irritability, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disorder, depressive tendency, feeling of discomfort, difficulty of concentration, loss of memory, visual disorder & dizziness.	Living near cell phone base station	Navarro et al. (2003)
Statistically significant dose–response relationships for headache, fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, visual disorder, nausea, sleeping disorders, dizziness, poor concentration, memory loss.	Living near cell phone base station	Oberfeld et al. (2004)
10 neuropsychiatric changes were assessed, all showing statistically significant changes compared with controls: Somatization, obsessive compulsivity, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, sleeping disturbance.	Occupational exposure of 25 workers to either UHF television broadcasting (10) or to 1062 kHz medium wave broadcasting (15)	Oto et al. (1994)
Heaviness in head, fatigue, irritability, sleepiness, memory loss, cardiac pain, dermographism (skin sensitivity), hyperhidrosis* * significant increase with time of exposure.	Occupational exposure to microwave radiation, including at <.07 mW/cm2	Sadcikova (1974)
Most common effects were headache, ear ache, sense of fatigue, sleep disturbance, concentration difficulty, face burning sensation. The first three of these had very high statistical significance for correlation with extent of cell phone use.	High cell (mobile) phone use	Salama and Abou El Naga (2004)
Each of the following neuropsychiatric symptoms showed statistical significant dose–response relationships: nausea, loss of appetite, visual disturbance, irritability, depressive tendencies, lowered libido, headache, sleep disturbance, feeling of discomfort, fatigue.	Living near cell phone base stations	Santini et al. (2003)
Increased mobile phone use was associated with increases in tiredness, stress, headache, anxiety, concentration difficulties and sleep disturbances.	Use of mobile phone among adolescents	Thomee et al (2011)
High mobile phone use was associated with statistically significant rises in stress and sleep disturbance, with somewhat weaker association with depression.	High mobile phone use	Thomee et al (2011)
Constant headaches, pressure in head, drowsiness, sleep problems, tightness in chest, shortness of breadth, depressive mood, total apathy, loss of empathy, burning skin, inner burning, leg weakness, pain in limbs, stabbing pain in various organs, weight increase.	Digital TV signaling	Waldmann-Selsam et al. (2009)

Observations including page numbers	Comment from Author
The majority of the histological changes seen following non-thermal exposures, occurred in the nervous system, despite its being only about 2% of the tissue mass in rodents; this suggests that the nervous system is highly sensitive to such exposures. Elsewhere (pp. 129, 136), it is suggested that the nervous system is the most sensitive tissue, followed by the heart and the testis, among all of the tissues of the body. The most severe histological changes produced by these non-thermal EMF exposures occur in the nervous system (pp. 136).	High CNS sensitivity to EMFs is predicted by the high density of VGCCs that occur in neurons throughout the nervous system, plus the VGCC role in neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine release.
Pulsed fields were more active than non-pulsed fields in producing histological changes (pp. 71, 97).	Pulsed fields have often been found to be more biologically active than are non-pulsed fields in many different studies from many countries (Pall, 2015, Pangopoulos et al., 2013, Belyaev, 2015).
Neuroendocrine changes seem to undergo change over increased time of exposure. Neurosecretion in the hypothalamus and in the pituitary each go through a complex sequence over time, where EMF exposure initially produces increased hormone secretion but where over time, the neurosecretory cells become “exhausted”, leading to lowered secretion and in some cases cell death (pp. 77–96).	Elevated [Ca2+]i stimulates hormone secretion. However when such elevated [Ca2+]i occurs over extended time periods it is highly damaging to the cell, leading in some cases to apoptosis; thus this time course of action should not be surprising.
Nervous system regions impacted by non-thermal microwave and lower frequency fields include: cortex, diencephalon including the hypothalamus and thalamus, hippocampus, autonomic ganglia, sensory fibers, pituitary gland including neurohypophysis.
Histological changes include boutons/argyrophilia, smaller neurons, vacuole formation in neuroendocrine cells, bead-like thickening along dendrites (pp. 66, 70, 71, 73, 97, 98, 100, 111, 115–117, 121–125). Spines near the ends of dendrites become deformed and with still more sessions of irradiation, disappeared entirely (p. 70). Sensory neurons, following exposures, developed changes characteristic of irritation, with “marked tortuosity of the nerve fibers.” Many histological changes are seen in the hypothalamic cells (pp. 87–92) as their neuroendocrine function becomes impacted. Histological changes were found even with exposures that produced no apparent functional changes.
Many histological and functional changes are reported to initially be reversible, following cessation of exposure, but progressively become irreversible with longer exposure. (pp. 64, 72, 74). Paralleling the development of irreversibility, it is found that “Repeated exposure leads to gradual increase in severity of observed changes.” … including “increasingly severe disturbance of conditioned reflex activity in the animals, changes in responses of animals particularly sensitive to acoustic stimulation….” (p. 104).	If this is also true in humans, then claims that there cannot be non-thermal effects, claims which act to prolong exposures, may be causing irreversible damage to many humans.
EEG changes (pp. 55, 60, 102), including seizure activity following sensory provocation.	Lai (1997) has an extensive review of EEG changes in animals following non-thermal microwave EMF exposures
Neurodegeneration is reported in a number of places in this review (pp. 72, 83, 117).
Synaptic connections in regions of the brain are disrupted (pp. 65–74, 97, 113, 121, 136), and at the extreme, some neurons are completely asynaptic (p. 73).	Synaptic connections are known to be disrupted in autism; could this suggest that autism may be generated by EMF exposure? No doubt, we need much more evidence on this.
“after prolonged and repeated irradiation with low-intensity centimeter waves, with no elevation of the body temperature and when the animal's condition remained satisfactory, changes were nevertheless found in the sensory fibers of the skin and viscera in the form of irritation phenomena. These findings concur with the view in the literature that the receptor system as a whole and, in particular its preterminal portions are highly sensitive.” p. 76. This description is similar to what is reported to occur in electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). Other such studies are described and include cumulative changes over time, that may also explain changes reported in EHS (pp. 75, 99, 100, 104).	One wonders whether almost 60 years ago, the Soviet literature may have already described a possible animal model for EHS. None is known to exist today, and because of that, EHS studies are severely constrained. Clearly one needs to be skeptical about this interpretation, but it is of great importance that this be further studied.