EMF exposure damages DNA, chromosomes, and genes

  • Fertility and Sterility: Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz, non-thermal effect) decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentation
  • Mutation Research: Single and double DNA strand breaks occurred after RF-EMF exposure (1800 MHz; 1.2 and 2 W/kg; different modulations; 4, 16 and 24 hour exposure; intermittent 5 min on/10 min off or continuous wave). The induced DNA damage was not based on thermal effects.
  • PLOS One: Six genes were confirmed to be sensitive to millimeter waves (60.4 GHz, 20 mW/cm2, 3 hours, non-thermal exposure) in ultra-broadband small cells of 5G cellular networks. Biocompatibility must be evaluated prior to 5G deployment.
  • International Journal of Radiation Biology: (1) The difference between ELF-EMF-exposed and control cells as well as the ‘effect size’ due to ELF-EMF exposure were biologically small (although statistically significant) with very few exceptions. (2) At certain ELF-EMF exposure conditions there was a statistically significant increase in genetic damage assessed from some end-points. (3) The mean indices for chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei end-points in ELF-EMF-exposed and control cells were within the spontaneous levels reported in historical database. (4) Considerable evidence for publication bias was found in the meta-analysis. 
  • Pathophysiology: EMFs disturb immune function through stimulation of various allergic and inflammatory responses, undermining tissue repair processes. This increases risks for cancer, DNA damage, and neurological effects, which can occur at exposure levels significantly below current safety limits.
  • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine: EMF exposure was found to alter the reproductive endocrine hormones, gonadal function, embryonic development, pregnancy, and fetal development. At the cellular level, an increase in free radicals may mediate the effect of EMFs and lead to cell growth inhibition, protein mis-folding, and DNA breaks.
  • Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine: Statistically significant genetic damage in blood leukocytes in residents living within 300 meters of a 800–2200 MHz cell phone tower in Punjab, India. The power density in the area within 300 m from the base station exceeded permissive limits.
  • Bioelectromagnetics: Under extended exposure conditions, RF signals at an average SAR of at least 5.0 W/kg are capable of inducing chromosomal damage in human lymphocytes.
  • Radiation Research: Abnormal chromosomal division observed in human-hamster hybrid cells after exposure to radiation in the terahertz frequency band (0.106 THz; 0.043 to 4.3 mW/cm2; 30 minute exposure)
  • Bioelectromagnetics: 2450 MHz exposure associated with a marked increase in chromosome aberrations and fragments.
  • Mutation Research: Higher frequency of chromosome lesions in irradiated cells. Microwave radiation causes changes in the synthesis and structure of DNA molecules. 
  • Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine: Residents living within 80 meters of cell phone towers have significantly more DNA damage and antioxidants in peripheral blood lymphocytes, compared to residents 300 meters from cell phone towers. Study funded by the Government of India, and New Delhi.
  • Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine: Both the pathophysiological (i.e., single-strand DNA breaks in cells) and therapeutic (bone growth) effects associated with non-thermal EMF effects in humans and higher animals is based on voltage-gated calcium channels.
  • Bioelectromagnetics: Defective Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus DNA particles generated when exposed to ELF-EMF (1 mT, 50 Hz, for 24-72 hours).
  • Bioelectromagnetics: Acute exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields caused a dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks in brain cells of rats. 
  • Environmental Health Perspectives: Acute exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field increases free radical formation in brain cells, leading to DNA strand breaks and cell death. 
  • Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology: Epstein-Barr virus genome activated in latently infected human lymphoid cells when exposed to 50 Hz electromagnetic field. Study shows DNA can be modulated by magnetic fields.
  • Tohoku Journal Experimental Medicine: Exposure to 2.45 GHz RF-EMF from Wi-Fi transmitters is hazardous to male reproductive system. Testes showed degenerative changes, reduced testosterone level, increased apoptotic cells, and DNA damage. Effects caused by elevation of testicular temperature and oxidative stress activity.
  • International Journal of Radiation Biology: Talking on a mobile phone for 15 or 30 min significantly increased single-strand DNA breaks in cells of hair roots close to the phone. Significantly more damage resulted after 30 min than after 15 min of phone use
  • Critical Reviews in Microbiology: The genome is affected because the conformational changes in DNA. EMF interaction with bacteria cause changes in their sensitivity to different chemicals, including antibiotics. These effects lead to changed metabolic pathways in bacteria and their antibiotic resistance.
  • Reviews on Environmental Health: Hundreds of studies show non-thermal exposure to microwaves induces negative biological impacts, contradicting the assumptions of a Canadian “Safety” Panel. Problems repeatedly associated with non-thermal exposure include: cancer; broken DNA; male/female infertility; sleep disruption; heart problems (i.e., tachycardia, arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death); diverse neuropsychiatric effects including depression; and oxidative stress. Voltage-gated calcium channel activation induces biological impacts at non-thermal RF EMF levels.
  • Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology: Damaging effects of nonionizing radiation result from the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent radical formation and from direct damage to cellular macromolecules including DNA. Depression, memory status, insomnia, and hair loss, were significantly associated with exposure to EMR.
  • Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis: Non-thermal radio-frequency electromagnetic fields used in mobile phones cause DNA breakage in human and rat cells.
  • Bioelectromagnetics: Four fold increase in DNA damage and micronuclei induction in human blood cells exposed to cell phone radiation (837 TDMA/CDMA, and 1909.8 MHz GSM, 5.0 W/kg minimum exposure; 24 hour exposure to each of four cell phone types).
  • Radiation Research: Human lymphatic system white blood cells experience genomic instability after exposure to radiation in the terahertz frequency band (0.1 THz; 0.031 mW/cm2; 2 and 24 hour exposure). Effects attributed to radiation-induced low-frequency collective vibrational modes of proteins and DNA. This exposure may increase cancer risk.
  • Mutation Research: 900MHz radiofrequency fields cause mitochondrial DNA and oxidative damage. 
  • Neurotoxicology: Low intensity microwave radiation at 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz induces oxidative stress, inflammatory response and DNA damage in rat brain via frequency-dependent effects.
  • Bioelectromagnetics: Increased DNA single- and double-strand breaks in rat brain cells is associated with acute exposure to pulsed 2450-MHz radio frequency electromagnetic radiation at 2 mW/cm2. Melatonin appears to block this damage.
  • Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy: DNA damage in rat testes associated with long-term exposure to 2.4 GHz RF radiation from Wi-Fi.
  • PLOS One: RF-EMR (1.8 GHz, 0.4 W/kg to 27.5 W/kg) induced oxidative stress in human sperm, damaging DNA. These effects correlate with poor fertility, increased miscarriage, childhood cancer, and morbidity in the offspring.
  • Journal of Pineal Research: 60-Hz magnetic fields induced single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells, which can be mitigated by injecting melatonin or PBN, since both efficiently scavenge free radicals induced by 60-Hz EMF.
  • Oxidants and Antioxidants in Medical Science (Ukraine): Exposure of developing quail eggs to low-intensity microwave from 900 MHz cell phone resulted in damaged DNA, likely caused by modulating EMF.
  • Environmental Research: Wi-Fi radiation causes oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric effects including electroencephalogram changes, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload.
  • Bioelectromagnetics: Low-intensity microwave exposure increases single-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells. 
  • Journal of Pineal Research: 60-Hz magnetic fields induced single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells, which can be mitigated by injecting melatonin or PBN, since both efficiently scavenge free radicals induced by 60-Hz EMF.
  • International Journal of Radiation Biology: Acute exposure to EMF at 2450-MHz causes single- and double-strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells, that occurred 4 hours after exposure.
  • Experimental Oncology: Exposure of developing quail embryos to extremely low intensity RF-EMR from GSM 900 MHz leads to a significant oxidative damage to DNA in embryo cells. Oxidative changes may lead to pathologies up to oncogenic transformation of cells.
  • General Physiology and Biophysics: Pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits exposed to RF EMF have elevated DNA and lipid damage.
  • Radiation Research: Genetically cancer-prone lab mice had 2.4 times the cancer rate of unexposed mice, after being exposed (900 MHz; pulse repetition frequency 217 Hz; 2.6-13 W/m2; 0.008-4.2 W/kg, averaging 0.13-1.4 W/kg).
  • Journal of Apicultural Research: DNA damage increased significantly in honey bee larvae exposed to RF-EMF at 900 MHz a with modulating field level (80% AM 1 kHz sinus) at 23 V/m.
  • International Journal of Toxicology: Chronic low-intensity 900 to 2450 MHz microwave exposure correlated with DNA damage in rat brains, declined cognitive function, and elevated heat specific proteins.
  • Planta (France): Cell phone radiation is perceived by plants as an injurious stimulus, based on tomato plants exposed to low level electromagnetic fields for 10 minutes (900 MHz, 5 V m−1). The plants quickly displayed genetic evidence after exposure, consistent with wound response.