I have been circulating abstracts of newly-published scientific papers on radio frequency and other non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) monthly since 2016. The complete collection contains more than 2000 abstracts with links to these papers. Several hundred EMF scientists around the world receive these updates.
To download Volume 3 which contains abstracts of papers published in 2024
(including the new papers listed below) click on the following link (192 page pdf):
To download Volume 2 which contains abstracts of papers published from 2021 through 2023
click on the following link (867 page pdf):
To download Volume 1 which contains abstracts of papers published from 2016 through 2020
click on the following link (875 page pdf):
The abstracts for recently published papers appear below.
Effect of exposure to RF on cancer risk: A systematic review of human observational studies – Part I: Most researched outcomes (SR 1A)
My note: See Biased WHO-commissioned review claims no cancer link
Abstract
Background The objective of this review was to assess the quality and strength of the evidence provided by human observational studies for a causal association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and risk of the most investigated neoplastic diseases.
Methods Eligibility criteria: We included cohort and case-control studies of neoplasia risks in relation to three types of exposure to RF-EMF: near-field, head-localized, exposure from wireless phone use (SR-A); far-field, whole body, environmental exposure from fixed-site transmitters (SR-B); near/far-field occupational exposures from use of hand-held transceivers or RF-emitting equipment in the workplace (SR-C). While no restrictions on tumour type were applied, in the current paper we focus on incidence-based studies of selected “critical” neoplasms of the central nervous system (brain, meninges, pituitary gland, acoustic nerve) and salivary gland tumours (SR-A); brain tumours and leukaemias (SR-B, SR-C). We focussed on investigations of specific neoplasms in relation to specific exposure sources (i.e. E-O pairs), noting that a single article may address multiple E-O pairs.
Information sources: Eligible studies were identified by literature searches through Medline, Embase, and EMF-Portal.
Risk-of-bias (RoB) assessment: We used a tailored version of the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) RoB tool to evaluate each study’s internal validity. At the summary RoB step, studies were classified into three tiers according to their overall potential for bias (low, moderate and high).
Data synthesis: We synthesized the study results using random effects restricted maximum likelihood (REML) models (overall and subgroup meta-analyses of dichotomous and categorical exposure variables), and weighted mixed effects models (dose–response meta-analyses of lifetime exposure intensity).
Evidence assessment: Confidence in evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.
Results We included 63 aetiological articles, published between 1994 and 2022, with participants from 22 countries, reporting on 119 different E-O pairs. RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones (ever or regular use vs no or non-regular use) was not associated with an increased risk of glioma [meta-estimate of the relative risk (mRR) = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.89–1.13), meningioma (mRR = 0.92, 95 % CI = 0.82–1.02), acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.03, 95 % CI = 0.85–1.24), pituitary tumours (mRR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.61–1.06), salivary gland tumours (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.78–1.06), or paediatric (children, adolescents and young adults) brain tumours (mRR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 0.74–1.51), with variable degree of across-study heterogeneity (I2 = 0 %-62 %). There was no observable increase in mRRs for the most investigated neoplasms (glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma) with increasing time since start (TSS) use of mobile phones, cumulative call time (CCT), or cumulative number of calls (CNC). Cordless phone use was not significantly associated with risks of glioma [mRR = 1.04, 95 % CI = 0.74–1.46; I2 = 74 %) meningioma, (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.70–1.18; I2 = 59 %), or acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.16; 95 % CI = 0.83–1.61; I2 = 63 %). Exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations) was not associated with childhood leukaemia or paediatric brain tumour risks, independently of the level of the modelled RF exposure. Glioma risk was not significantly increased following occupational RF exposure (ever vs never), and no differences were detected between increasing categories of modelled cumulative exposure levels.
Discussion In the sensitivity analyses of glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma risks in relation to mobile phone use (ever use, TSS, CCT, and CNC) the presented results were robust and not affected by changes in study aggregation.
In a leave-one-out meta-analyses of glioma risk in relation to mobile phone use we identified one influential study. In subsequent meta-analyses performed after excluding this study, we observed a substantial reduction in the mRR and the heterogeneity between studies, for both the contrast Ever vs Never (regular) use (mRR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.87–1.07, I2 = 47 %), and in the analysis by increasing categories of TSS (“<5 years”: mRR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.83–1.14, I2 = 41 %; “5-9 years ”: mRR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.83–1.11, I2 = 34 %; “10+ years”: mRR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.87–1.08, I2 = 10 %).
There was limited variation across studies in RoB for the priority domains (selection/attrition, exposure and outcome information), with the number of studies evenly classified as at low and moderate risk of bias (49 % tier-1 and 51 % tier-2), and no studies classified as at high risk of bias (tier-3). The impact of the biases on the study results (amount and direction) proved difficult to predict, and the RoB tool was inherently unable to account for the effect of competing biases. However, the sensitivity meta-analyses stratified on bias-tier, showed that the heterogeneity observed in our main meta-analyses across studies of glioma and acoustic neuroma in the upper TSS stratum (I2 = 77 % and 76 %), was explained by the summary RoB-tier. In the tier-1 study subgroup, the mRRs (95 % CI; I2) in long-term (10+ years) users were 0.95 (0.85–1.05; 5.5 %) for glioma, and 1.00 (0.78–1.29; 35 %) for acoustic neuroma.
The time-trend simulation studies, evaluated as complementary evidence in line with a triangulation approach for external validity, were consistent in showing that the increased risks observed in some case-control studies were incompatible with the actual incidence rates of glioma/brain cancer observed in several countries and over long periods. Three of these simulation studies consistently reported that RR estimates > 1.5 with a 10+ years induction period were definitely implausible, and could be used to set a “credibility benchmark”. In the sensitivity meta-analyses of glioma risk in the upper category of TSS excluding five studies reporting implausible effect sizes, we observed strong reductions in both the mRR [mRR of 0.95 (95 % CI = 0.86–1.05)], and the degree of heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 3.6 %).
Conclusions Consistently with the published protocol, our final conclusions were formulated separately for each exposure-outcome combination, and primarily based on the line of evidence with the highest confidence, taking into account the ranking of RF sources by exposure level as inferred from dosimetric studies, and the external coherence with findings from time-trend simulation studies (limited to glioma in relation to mobile phone use).
For near field RF-EMF exposure to the head from mobile phone use, there was moderate certainty evidence that it likely does not increase the risk of glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, pituitary tumours, and salivary gland tumours in adults, or of paediatric brain tumours.
For near field RF-EMF exposure to the head from cordless phone use, there was low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of glioma, meningioma or acoustic neuroma.
For whole-body far-field RF-EMF exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations), there was moderate certainty evidence that it likely does not increase childhood leukaemia risk and low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of paediatric brain tumours. There were no studies eligible for inclusion investigating RF-EMF exposure from fixed-site transmitters and critical tumours in adults.
For occupational RF-EMF exposure, there was low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of brain cancer/glioma, but there were no included studies of leukemias (the second critical outcome in SR-C).
The evidence rating regarding paediatric brain tumours in relation to environmental RF exposure from fixed-site transmitters should be interpreted with caution, due to the small number of studies. Similar interpretative cautions apply to the evidence rating of the relation between glioma/brain cancer and occupational RF exposure, due to differences in exposure sources and metrics across the few included studies.
Other This project was commissioned and partially funded by the World Health Organization (WHO). Co-financing was provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health; the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in its capacity as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health; and ARPANSA as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Protection. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021236798. Published protocol: [(Lagorio et al., 2021) DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
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The effects of radiofrequency exposure on adverse female reproductive
outcomes: A systematic review of human observational studies with
dose–response meta-analysis (SR 3 female)
Johnson EE, Kenny RPW, Adesanya AM, Richmond C, Beyer F, Calderon C,
Rankin J, Pearce MS, Toledano M, Craig D, Pearson F. The effects of
radiofrequency exposure on adverse female reproductive outcomes: A
systematic review of human observational studies with dose-response
meta-analysis. Environ Int. 2024 Jun 12;190:108816. doi:
10.1016/j.envint.2024.108816.
Abstract
Background To inform radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure guidelines the World Health Organization (WHO) is bringing together evidence on RF-EMF in relation to health outcomes prioritised for evaluation by experts in this field. Given this, a network of topic experts and methodologists have conducted a series of systematic reviews collecting, assessing, and synthesising data of relevance to these guidelines. Here we present a systematic review of the effect of RF-EMF exposure on adverse pregnancy outcomes in human observational studies which follows the WHO handbook for guideline development and the COSTER conduct guidelines.
Methods We conducted a broad, sensitive search for potentially relevant records within the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE; Embase; and the EMF Portal. Grey literature searches were also conducted through relevant databases (including OpenGrey), organisational websites and via consultation of RF-EMF experts. We included quantitative human observational studies on the effect of RF-EMF exposure in adults’ preconception or pregnant women on pre-term birth, small for gestational age (SGA; associated with intrauterine growth restriction), miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight (LBW) and congenital anomalies. In blinded duplicate, titles and abstracts then full texts were screened against eligibility criteria. A third reviewer gave input when consensus was not reached. Citation chaining of included studies was completed. Two reviewers’ data extracted and assessed included studies for risk of bias using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) tool. Random effects meta-analyses of the highest versus the lowest exposures and dose–response meta-analysis were conducted as appropriate and plausible. Two reviewers assessed the certainty in each body of evidence using the OHAT GRADE tool.
Results We identified 18 studies in this review; eight were general public studies (with the general public as the population of interest) and 10 were occupational studies (with the population of interest specific workers/workforces). General public studies. From pairwise meta-analyses of general public studies, the evidence is very uncertain about the effects of RF-EMF from mobile phone exposure on preterm birth risk (relative risk (RR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97–1.34, 95% prediction interval (PI): 0.83–1.57; 4 studies), LBW (RR 1.14, 95% CI: 0.96–1.36, 95% PI: 0.84–1.57; 4 studies) or SGA (RR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02–1.24, 95% PI: 0.99–1.28; 2 studies) due to very low-certainty evidence. It was not feasible to meta-analyse studies reporting on the effect of RF-EMF from mobile phone exposure on congenital anomalies or miscarriage risk. The reported effects from the studies assessing these outcomes varied and the studies were at some risk of bias. No studies of the general public assessed the impact of RF-EMF exposure on stillbirth. Occupational studies. In occupational studies, based on dose–response meta-analyses, the evidence is very uncertain about the effects of RF-EMF amongst female physiotherapists using shortwave diathermy on miscarriage due to very low-certainty evidence (OR 1.02 95% CI 0.94–1.1; 2 studies). Amongst offspring of female physiotherapists using shortwave diathermy, the evidence is very uncertain about the effects of RF-EMF on the risk of congenital malformations due to very low-certainty evidence (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.32; 2 studies). From pairwise meta-analyses, the evidence is very uncertain about the effects of RF-EMF on the risk of miscarriage (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.18; very low-certainty evidence), pre-term births (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.32 to 4.37; 3 studies; very low-certainty evidence), and low birth weight (RR 2.90, 95% CI: 0.69 to 12.23; 3 studies; very low-certainty evidence). Results for stillbirth and SGA could not be pooled in meta-analyses. The results from the studies reporting these outcomes were inconsistent and the studies were at some risk of bias.
Discussion Most of the evidence identified in this review was from general public studies assessing localised RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone use on female reproductive outcomes. In occupational settings, each study was of heterogenous whole-body RF-EMF exposure from radar, short or microwave diathermy, surveillance and welding equipment and its effect on female reproductive outcomes. Overall, the body of evidence is very uncertain about the effect of RF-EMF exposure on female reproductive outcomes. Further prospective studies conducted with greater rigour (particularly improved accuracy of exposure measurement and using appropriate statistical methods) are required to identify any potential effects of RF-EMF exposure on female reproductive outcomes of interest.
Open access paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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The
effects of radiofrequency exposure on male fertility: A systematic
review of human observational studies with dose-response meta-analysis
(SR 3 male)
Kenny RPW, Evelynne Johnson E, Adesanya AM, Richmond C, Beyer F,
Calderon C, Rankin J, Pearce MS, Toledano M, Craig D, Pearson F. The
effects of radiofrequency exposure on male fertility: A systematic
review of human observational studies with dose-response meta-analysis.
Environ Int. 2024 Jun 11;190:108817. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108817.
Abstract
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) is bringing together evidence on radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure in relation to health outcomes, previously identified as priorities for research and evaluation by experts in the field, to inform exposure guidelines. A suite of systematic reviews have been undertaken by a network of topic experts and methodologists to collect, assess and synthesise data relevant to these guidelines. Following the WHO handbook for guideline development and the COSTER conduct guidelines, we systematically reviewed the evidence on the potential effects of RF-EMF exposure on male fertility in human observational studies.
Methods: We conducted a broad and sensitive search for potentially relevant records within the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE; Embase; Web of Science and EMF Portal. We also conducted searches of grey literature through relevant databases including OpenGrey, and organisational websites and consulted RF-EMF experts. We hand searched reference lists of included study records and for citations of these studies. We included quantitative human observational studies on the effect of RF-EMF exposure in adult male participants on infertility: sperm concentration; sperm morphology; sperm total motility; sperm progressive motility; total sperm count; and time to pregnancy. Titles and abstracts followed by full texts were screened in blinded duplicate against pre-set eligibility criteria with consensus input from a third reviewer as required. Data extraction from included studies was completed by two reviewers, as was risk of bias assessment using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) tool. We conducted a dose-response meta-analysis as possible and appropriate. Certainty of the evidence was assessed by two reviewers using the OHAT GRADE tool with input from a third reviewer as required.
Results: We identified nine studies in this review; seven were general public studies (with the general public as the population of interest) and two were occupational studies (with specific workers/workforces as the population of interest). General public studies. Duration of phone use: The evidence is very uncertain surrounding the effects of RF-EMF on sperm concentration (10/6 mL) (MD (mean difference) per hour of daily phone use 1.6 106/mL, 95 % CI -1.7 to 4.9; 3 studies), sperm morphology (MD 0.15 percentage points of deviation of normal forms per hour, 95 % CI -0.21 to 0.51; 3 studies), sperm progressive motility (MD -0.46 percentage points per hour, 95 % CI -1.04 to 0.13; 2 studies) and total sperm count (MD per hour -0.44 106/ejaculate, 95 % CI -2.59 to 1.7; 2 studies) due to very low-certainty evidence. Four additional studies reported on the effect of mobile phone use on sperm motility but were unsuitable for pooling; only one of these studies identified a statistically significant effect. All four studies were at risk of exposure characterisation and selection bias; two of confounding, selective reporting and attrition bias; three of outcome assessment bias and one used an inappropriate statistical method. Position of phone: There may be no or little effect of carrying a mobile phone in the front pocket on sperm concentration, total count, morphology, progressive motility or on time to pregnancy. Of three studies reporting on the effect of mobile phone location on sperm total motility and, or, total motile count, one showed a statistically significant effect. All three studies were at risk of exposure characterisation and selection bias; two of confounding, selective reporting and attrition bias; three of outcome assessment bias and one used inappropriate statistical method. RF-EMF Source: One study indicates there may be little or no effect of computer or other electric device use on sperm concentration, total motility or total count. This study is at probably high risk of exposure characterisation bias and outcome assessment bias. Occupational studies. With only two studies of occupational exposure to RF-EMF and heterogeneity in the population and exposure source (technicians exposed to microwaves or seamen exposed to radar equipment), it was not plausible to statistically pool findings. One study was at probably or definitely high risk of bias across all domains, the other across domains for exposure characterisation bias, outcome assessment bias and confounding.
Discussion: The majority of evidence identified was assessing localised RF-EMF exposure from mobile phone use on male fertility with few studies assessing the impact of phone position. Overall, the evidence identified is very uncertain about the effect of RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones on sperm outcomes. One study assessed the impact of other RF-EMF sources on male fertility amongst the general public and two studies assessed the impact of RF-EMF exposure in occupational cohorts from different sources (radar or microwave) on male fertility. Further prospective studies conducted with greater rigour (in particular, improved accuracy of exposure measurement and appropriate statistical method use) would build the existing evidence base and are required to have greater certainty in any potential effects of RF-EMF on male reproductive outcomes. Prospero Registration: CRD42021265401 (SR3A).
Open access paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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Response to letter from Bevington M., Electrosensitivity UK (WHO SR 8)
Bosch-Capblanch X, Esu E, Oringanje CM, Dongus S, Jalilian H, Eyers J, Auer C, Meremikwu M, Röösli M. Response to letter from Bevington M., Electrosensitivity UK. Environment International. 191, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108982.
No abstract
We thank M. Bevington for his comments and the opportunity to clarify some issues related to our review. Our review paper is one out of ten systematic reviews commissioned by the WHO to assess potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in the general and working populations (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). The specific topic of this review, i.e. self-reported symptoms in human experimental RF-EMF studies, has been prioritized based on the results from an expert survey (Verbeek et al., 2021).
Bevington writes that our conclusion − that available evidence suggests that acute RF-EMF below regulatory limits does not cause symptoms − contradicts his experience over the last 16 years as a trustee of the charity Electrosensitivity UK. He argues that the results of our review could be challenged in three ways.
The first of Bevington’s critique is that the inclusion criteria for the review were too narrow, potentially excluding studies with positive results. We used human experimental studies as they are the best available evidence for this type of research question and are least prone to bias. We included all eligible studies based on the inclusion criteria described in the protocol (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2022), not on their results. In terms of exposure, we included all human experimental studies applying a frequency range of 100 kHz- 300 GHz. We agree with Bevington that real-life exposure from mobile phones also involves low frequency magnetic fields (LF-MF) from time varying currents in the phone (Calderon et al., 2017). Yet, our review included nine papers using a real phone as an exposure set-up, which may have exposed participants to LF-MF. The results for these studies did not differ from those with pure RF-EMF exposure, as also reported in another systematic review (Schmiedchen et al., 2019). We restricted our review to studies evaluating symptoms, as these are what patients report and therefore most important. It is unclear how physiological changes connect to reported symptoms so we excluded studies evaluating physiological outcomes. This would be a separate topic for a systematic review about which we drew no conclusion.
Bevington argues that using the average of the results across all participants hides positive cases. We agree this is possible and we discussed it in the paper, noting that a real EMF effect in a very small subgroup could be masked by a majority of insensitive individuals (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). Bevington suggests that studies with sensitive individuals, such as (Rea et al., 1991), would have been excluded. As stated before, we strictly followed transparent inclusion criteria and did not exclude studies for any other reason. Rea et al. (1991) was excluded because the exposure conditions did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. First, 86% of the exposure conditions were in the LF range and did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. Second, the description of the experimental procedures and data analyses misses critical information, which would be needed to assess the risk of bias. In particular, the post-hoc selection of participants for inclusion and exclusion from the data analysis is not transparent and this is likely to produce bias. Rea et al. (1991) applied substantially more real than sham exposure conditions (80% to 83%). Our review has demonstrated the preference of IEI-EMF individuals to rate presence over absence of exposure regardless of true exposure status (i.e. higher sensitivity and lower specificity than non-IEI-EMF individuals). Thus, the imbalance in exposure prevalence should have been considered in the data analysis by Rea et al. (1991), which was apparently not the case. Third, results in Rea et al. (1991) are presented in a manner that did not make them suitable for any quantitative analysis. Of note, Rea et al. (1991) reported that in the first phase of their trial, 50% of the patients reacted to placebo, which is in line with other studies suggesting that nocebo reaction plays a role for development of non-specific symptoms. Thus, we cannot agree with the generic conclusions of some cited narrative reviews that there is no proof for nocebo. Nocebo may not be the sole explanation, but a reaction to open provocation with subsequent absence of reaction in a double-blind testing, as observed in many of our reviewed studies, is a strong indication for a nocebo reaction (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). We also point out that various individualized testing studies did not find effects in selected sensitive individuals (Radon and Maschke, 1998, van Moorselaar et al., 2017, Verrender et al., 2018a, Verrender et al., 2018b). Nevertheless, we encourage Electrosensitivity UK to use their experience to conduct such individualized testing studies by applying highest scientific standards, including accurate exposure characterization, counterbalanced randomization, double-blinding and appropriate statistical analyses.
Bevington also cites eight case reports as examples of individual provocation studies. He claims that these reports confirm “RF-EMF as a cause of symptoms in each case”. Case reports cannot be considered as individual provocation studies, since they lack an experimental approach and the link between symptoms and exposure is only made based on the experienced concurrent occurrence of symptoms and exposure in the daily life. Concurrency is not a causal prove, because individuals are not blind to the exposure situation and thus nocebo or symptom attribution cannot be excluded (Dieudonne, 2020). Further, chance is also a plausible explanation. Everyday new RF-EMF infrastructure is set-up and thus it is not surprising that this may coincide with the onset of symptoms or diseases, which are common in the population at large. The same holds for the cited ecological momentary assessment studies of IEI-EMF individuals (Bogers et al., 2018, Bolte et al., 2019, Domotor et al., 2022), where actually mostly absence of associations between symptoms and RF-EMF exposure was observed. Nevertheless, in their daily life, study participants are well aware, whether they are close to an RF-EMF emitting source and thus potentially exposed. Thus, the sporadically observed associations may be explained by nocebo, attribution or chance and would need to be confirmed in an experimental double-blind and randomized setting before they can be causally attributed to RF-EMF exposure. This is the state-of-the-art approach. To prove (or disprove) causal inference for a single individual is often impossible (Huss et al., 2004, Verbeek, 2012).
This brings us to the third criticism. Bevington states that there is positive proof from other sources, such as court decisions, which requested the removal of mobile phones, mobile-phone masts, Wi-Fi, and smart meters to protect people and comply with equality and disability legislation. Despite that no specific references to such cases are provided, to the best of our knowledge these sources cannot constitute the best available evidence to establish a causal relation between an exposure and an effect. There can be many other criteria that may have resulted in such decisions, such as considerations of equity, fairness, and the fulfilment of human rights, regardless of the underlying causal pathway for the disability. Needless to say that our systematic review does not question in any way the suffering of any human being inflicted by any condition.
In conclusion, Bevington seems to overlook the scientific approach of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A systematic review addresses a specific topic by examining all data that meet predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This methodology helps researchers overcome confirmation bias, where only information supporting one’s own position is considered. Our review cannot explain the entire scope of health effects from RF-EMF. We have discussed several limitations that should be considered when interpreting our findings (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). We do not agree that these limitations can be overcome by including selected case, animal or in-vitro studies referred to by Bevington. We also outlined implications for future research to close knowledge gaps. Scientific history has shown that personal experience is a good starting point for generating hypotheses that, when translated into rigorous science, have the potential to advance scientific knowledge.
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: All institutions of all authors reports financial support was provided by World Health Organization. Martin Röösli’s research is entirely funded by public or not-for-profit foundations. He has served as advisor to a number of national and international public advisory and research steering groups concerning the potential health effects of exposure to nonionizing radiation, including the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the Swiss Government (member of the working group “mobile phone and radiation” and chair of the expert group BERENIS), the German Radiation Protection Commission (member of the committee Non-ionizing Radiation (A6) and member of the working group 5G (A630)) and the Independent Expert Group of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. From 2011 to 2018, M.R. was an unpaid member of the foundation board of the Swiss Research Foundation for Electricity and Mobile Communication, a non-profit research foundation at ETH Zurich. Neither industry nor nongovernmental organizations are represented on the scientific board of the foundation. For the other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Bevington writes that our conclusion − that available evidence suggests that acute RF-EMF below regulatory limits does not cause symptoms − contradicts his experience over the last 16 years as a trustee of the charity Electrosensitivity UK. He argues that the results of our review could be challenged in three ways.
The first of Bevington’s critique is that the inclusion criteria for the review were too narrow, potentially excluding studies with positive results. We used human experimental studies as they are the best available evidence for this type of research question and are least prone to bias. We included all eligible studies based on the inclusion criteria described in the protocol (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2022), not on their results. In terms of exposure, we included all human experimental studies applying a frequency range of 100 kHz- 300 GHz. We agree with Bevington that real-life exposure from mobile phones also involves low frequency magnetic fields (LF-MF) from time varying currents in the phone (Calderon et al., 2017). Yet, our review included nine papers using a real phone as an exposure set-up, which may have exposed participants to LF-MF. The results for these studies did not differ from those with pure RF-EMF exposure, as also reported in another systematic review (Schmiedchen et al., 2019). We restricted our review to studies evaluating symptoms, as these are what patients report and therefore most important. It is unclear how physiological changes connect to reported symptoms so we excluded studies evaluating physiological outcomes. This would be a separate topic for a systematic review about which we drew no conclusion.
Bevington argues that using the average of the results across all participants hides positive cases. We agree this is possible and we discussed it in the paper, noting that a real EMF effect in a very small subgroup could be masked by a majority of insensitive individuals (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). Bevington suggests that studies with sensitive individuals, such as (Rea et al., 1991), would have been excluded. As stated before, we strictly followed transparent inclusion criteria and did not exclude studies for any other reason. Rea et al. (1991) was excluded because the exposure conditions did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. First, 86% of the exposure conditions were in the LF range and did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. Second, the description of the experimental procedures and data analyses misses critical information, which would be needed to assess the risk of bias. In particular, the post-hoc selection of participants for inclusion and exclusion from the data analysis is not transparent and this is likely to produce bias. Rea et al. (1991) applied substantially more real than sham exposure conditions (80% to 83%). Our review has demonstrated the preference of IEI-EMF individuals to rate presence over absence of exposure regardless of true exposure status (i.e. higher sensitivity and lower specificity than non-IEI-EMF individuals). Thus, the imbalance in exposure prevalence should have been considered in the data analysis by Rea et al. (1991), which was apparently not the case. Third, results in Rea et al. (1991) are presented in a manner that did not make them suitable for any quantitative analysis. Of note, Rea et al. (1991) reported that in the first phase of their trial, 50% of the patients reacted to placebo, which is in line with other studies suggesting that nocebo reaction plays a role for development of non-specific symptoms. Thus, we cannot agree with the generic conclusions of some cited narrative reviews that there is no proof for nocebo. Nocebo may not be the sole explanation, but a reaction to open provocation with subsequent absence of reaction in a double-blind testing, as observed in many of our reviewed studies, is a strong indication for a nocebo reaction (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). We also point out that various individualized testing studies did not find effects in selected sensitive individuals (Radon and Maschke, 1998, van Moorselaar et al., 2017, Verrender et al., 2018a, Verrender et al., 2018b). Nevertheless, we encourage Electrosensitivity UK to use their experience to conduct such individualized testing studies by applying highest scientific standards, including accurate exposure characterization, counterbalanced randomization, double-blinding and appropriate statistical analyses.
Bevington also cites eight case reports as examples of individual provocation studies. He claims that these reports confirm “RF-EMF as a cause of symptoms in each case”. Case reports cannot be considered as individual provocation studies, since they lack an experimental approach and the link between symptoms and exposure is only made based on the experienced concurrent occurrence of symptoms and exposure in the daily life. Concurrency is not a causal prove, because individuals are not blind to the exposure situation and thus nocebo or symptom attribution cannot be excluded (Dieudonne, 2020). Further, chance is also a plausible explanation. Everyday new RF-EMF infrastructure is set-up and thus it is not surprising that this may coincide with the onset of symptoms or diseases, which are common in the population at large. The same holds for the cited ecological momentary assessment studies of IEI-EMF individuals (Bogers et al., 2018, Bolte et al., 2019, Domotor et al., 2022), where actually mostly absence of associations between symptoms and RF-EMF exposure was observed. Nevertheless, in their daily life, study participants are well aware, whether they are close to an RF-EMF emitting source and thus potentially exposed. Thus, the sporadically observed associations may be explained by nocebo, attribution or chance and would need to be confirmed in an experimental double-blind and randomized setting before they can be causally attributed to RF-EMF exposure. This is the state-of-the-art approach. To prove (or disprove) causal inference for a single individual is often impossible (Huss et al., 2004, Verbeek, 2012).
This brings us to the third criticism. Bevington states that there is positive proof from other sources, such as court decisions, which requested the removal of mobile phones, mobile-phone masts, Wi-Fi, and smart meters to protect people and comply with equality and disability legislation. Despite that no specific references to such cases are provided, to the best of our knowledge these sources cannot constitute the best available evidence to establish a causal relation between an exposure and an effect. There can be many other criteria that may have resulted in such decisions, such as considerations of equity, fairness, and the fulfilment of human rights, regardless of the underlying causal pathway for the disability. Needless to say that our systematic review does not question in any way the suffering of any human being inflicted by any condition.
In conclusion, Bevington seems to overlook the scientific approach of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A systematic review addresses a specific topic by examining all data that meet predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This methodology helps researchers overcome confirmation bias, where only information supporting one’s own position is considered. Our review cannot explain the entire scope of health effects from RF-EMF. We have discussed several limitations that should be considered when interpreting our findings (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024). We do not agree that these limitations can be overcome by including selected case, animal or in-vitro studies referred to by Bevington. We also outlined implications for future research to close knowledge gaps. Scientific history has shown that personal experience is a good starting point for generating hypotheses that, when translated into rigorous science, have the potential to advance scientific knowledge.
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: All institutions of all authors reports financial support was provided by World Health Organization. Martin Röösli’s research is entirely funded by public or not-for-profit foundations. He has served as advisor to a number of national and international public advisory and research steering groups concerning the potential health effects of exposure to nonionizing radiation, including the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the Swiss Government (member of the working group “mobile phone and radiation” and chair of the expert group BERENIS), the German Radiation Protection Commission (member of the committee Non-ionizing Radiation (A6) and member of the working group 5G (A630)) and the Independent Expert Group of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. From 2011 to 2018, M.R. was an unpaid member of the foundation board of the Swiss Research Foundation for Electricity and Mobile Communication, a non-profit research foundation at ETH Zurich. Neither industry nor nongovernmental organizations are represented on the scientific board of the foundation. For the other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Open access paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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Bevington Letter to Editor re: WHO systematic review of RF-EMF effects in human experimental studies of self-reported symptoms (WHO SR 8)
Bevington M. Letter to the Editor, Environment International ‘Available evidence shows adverse symptoms from acute non-thermal RF-EMF exposure’. Comment on: Bosch-Capblanch X et al., The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on human self-reported symptoms: A systematic review of human experimental studies, Envir Int. vol. 187, May 2024, 108612, Environment International, 2024, 108888, doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108888.
No abstract
This review (Bosch-Capblanch et al., 2024) states in its Interpretation that “available evidence” suggests that acute non-thermal RF-EMF “does not cause symptoms”. However, this unqualified broad claim, while arguably valid if it had been limited to the 41 mainly negative studies reviewed, contradicts my experience over the last 16 years as a trustee of the charity Electrosensitivity UK, which since 2003 has sought to help people sensitised to RF-EMF. The review’s Interpretation is invalidated in three ways. Firstly, its parameters excluded much available evidence showing positive effects; secondly, the use of averaging hides individual cases which provide positive evidence; and, thirdly, its negative claim is contradicted by positive proof from other sources, including practical, judicial, legal and underwriting.
Firstly, the review’s restricted parameters exclude much available evidence showing positive effects, especially because of its limited definitions or unproven assumptions. The review concerned “mobile telephony” yet excluded studies with “more than 10 % of the total signal energy” outside 100 kHz–300 GHz. However, mobile devices expose “significant parts of the human brain and head to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF)”, with some MF levels above Bioinitiative and EUROPAEM guidelines (Misek et al., 2023). Further, RF signals from mobile devices have ELF modulations, where the “biological effects attributed to RF EMFs”, such as oxidative stress and DNA damage, can be regarded as “actually due to their ELF components” (Panagopoulos et al., 2021). By not evaluating all available evidence on the ELF and MF effects involved this review also omitted in its discussion a comparison with established sensitivity to geomagnetic disturbances across significant populations (Sarimov et al., 2023), including, for instance, a correlation of geomagnetic activity and migraines (Kuritzky et al., 1987). These and similar examples show the wide range of human sensitivity to EMF exposures (Martel et al., 2023), its consistency with the Microwave Syndrome or Electro-Hypersensitivity (Carpenter, 2015), and its physiological basis in part by reception through magnetite and the radical pair mechanism acting on cryptochromes (Sherrard et al., 2018).
The review also restricted “the outcomes of interest” to “symptoms” assumed to be “typically self-reported”. It thus limited “perception” to subjective feelings and not physiological reactions. It did not reference the two most wide-ranging reviews of acute non-thermal RF-EMF symptoms (ICNIRP, 2002, International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF), 2022), which both found that some people, but not all, are particularly vulnerable to such symptoms. It also did not reference the Scientific Consensus International Report (Belpomme et al, 2021) by 32 experts which argued that hypersensitivity to EMFs is a “distinct neuropathological disorder” and that “there is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects”, in direct contradiction to this review’s Interpretation of “available evidence”. Other studies have shown brain abnormalities in people sensitive to acute RF-EMF exposures (Heuser and Heuser, 2017), while studies on healthy subjects found perception of RF-EMF mobile phone signals with EMF effects in the alpha band (van der Meer et al., 2023) and in the theta band (Wallace et al., 2023). It did not reference potential therapies reducing anxiety caused by RF-EMF exposure, such as drugs working through the endocannabinoid system (Xue et al., 2024).
Secondly, the use of averaging in each study reviewed in the meta-analysis hides individual cases of sensitivity which provide positive evidence. Justification for averaging in turn depends on assumptions about the need to screen subjects before provocation tests, about the characterisation of participants as nonsensitive, sensitive or hypersensitive, and about the consistency of reactions. Some provocation tests showing 100 % positive accuracy in identifying EMF exposures, based on screening participants for whether they were sensitive or hypersensitive, were excluded from this review. For instance, in one study 100 participants reported EMF sensitivity but only 25 % could repeatedly identify EMF and sham challenges accurately (Rea et al, 1991). Further testing of this 25 % showed 16 % of the original 100 participants had autonomic nervous system changes and, when rechallenged at the frequencies to which they were most sensitive, were 100 % accurate in both positive and sham exposures. In contrast, 100 % of controls could not identify challenges accurately. If the participants had not been screened for their sensitivity prior to testing and if the results had been averaged, the study might not have shown 100 % positive results. Similarly, a study which showed 100 % accuracy for subconscious neurological biomarkers first screened the subject for the characteristics of the subject’s particular sensitivity and then applied the relevant frequency and on–off transitions to which the participant was subconsciously sensitive to achieve positive results (McCarty et al, 2011). Where provocation tests, such as those selected by this review, have failed to screen participants prior to testing and then averaged the results, even when individual participants scored 100 % accuracy, the positive outcomes have been lost in averaging, especially when a high positive percentage is required for significance. Indeed, some participants most sensitive to RF-EMF were forced by adverse symptoms to withdraw early from some of the studies included in this review, despite achieving 100 % accuracy, and their positive scores were then excluded from the results.
In contrast to the selection parameters employed by this review, two different types of individual provocation studies have shown positive results. A series of eight environmental provocation studies conducted from 2021 onwards recorded each individual’s symptoms separately (Hardell and Nilsson, 2024), confirming RF-EMF as a cause of symptoms in each case. The review excluded these, presumably because they were published after 2022. Likewise, three ecological momentary assessments, where a wide range of exposures and a variety of responses by individual participants were recorded separately for 5–21 days, found single cases supporting the association of acute EMF exposure for both conscious and subconscious symptoms (Bogers et al., 2018, Bolte et al., 2019, Dömötör et al., 2022). These all contradicted this review’s Interpretation and confirmed that acute non-thermal RF-EMF does cause symptoms, although not in all people all the time, and with inter-individual differences.
Averaging is often used with another invalidated assumption, that of consistency, as seen, for instance, in a linear dose–response relationship of symptoms to the intensity of the exposure. Although this can occur, there is no proof that it always happens (Buchachenko, 2016) and inconsistent outcomes of electrical experiments have long been known (Desaguliers, 1742). There are windows of effects based on a variety of transduction mechanisms (Blackman et al., 1989). Delayed symptoms, occasionally reported after acute RF-EMF exposure, have been recorded in provocation tests (Havas and Marrongelle, 2021). This matches evidence from other human and animal studies showing inconsistency in EMF reactions in a wide range of different organisms. For instance, a recent review (Zhen et al., 2024) showed changes from EMF exposure in the regulation of iron metabolism, itself associated with neurological and demyelinating effects and GSMT1/GSTT1 null polymorphisms, all found in people sensitive to EMFs where these haplotype variants are up to nearly 10 times more common (De Luca et al. 2014). Similar EMF exposures produced diverse biological effects, ranging from an increase to a decrease or no change. These effects are thus “varied and unstable due to the random effects of magneto-biology”, leading to the conclusion that “the effects of EMF on the same type of organism may not be consistent, which makes it difficult to confirm and evaluate the true effects and mechanisms”, despite their observable occurrence. Likewise, it has long been known that provocation tests using very similar electrical exposures can give different results, with or without positive symptoms (Feldman et al., 1985), as also with genotoxic outcomes (Jagetia, 2022), and even at a cellular level, where similar frequency, duration, intensity or waveform do not always orchestrate a linear or dose–effect correlation with the biological response (López de Mingo et al., 2024). Such established inconsistencies render impossible any definitive conclusion from the 41 selected provocation tests, in addition to the problems of averaging their results and not screening subjects for EMF sensitivity prior to testing.
Thirdly, the review’s claim, which it admitted was based on evidence of a “low level of certainty”, contradicts the growing range of positive proof from other sources. In judicial cases higher levels of certainty can be achieved from the available evidence through rigorous analysis and investigation. Thus, since the year 2001, courts across the world have recognised that non-thermal RF-EMF can cause acute adverse symptoms and have required the removal of mobile phones, mobile-phone masts, Wi-Fi and smart meters to protect people and comply with equality and disability legislation. In addition, some courts have imposed compensation or fines for lack of compliance in ensuring the health and safety of everyone from EMF exposures. The classification of RF-EMF as a 2B possible carcinogen (IARC and WHO, 2011, IARC and WHO, 2013) has been corroborated by studies confirming its carcinogenicity (NTP, 2018a, NTP Technical Report, 2018b) and by people hypersensitive to RF-EMF who report acute RF-EMF conscious symptoms related to the chronic carcinogenic tumour sites. Available evidence showing acute non-thermal RF-EMF symptoms in individual ecological assessments indicates a No Observable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of about 0.05 V/m (Bevington, 2024), with the RF-EMF safety limit set lower by a factor of at least ten times. Moreover, since the 1990s underwriters have either classified EMF as high risk, like other carcinogens such as asbestos, or refused to insure EMF.
In conclusion, the claim that “available evidence” suggests that acute non-thermal RF-EMF “does not cause symptoms” is not substantiated by all the evidence available, including evidence from 1932 onwards when the condition of Radio Wave Sickness was first described, evidence from individuals and screened tests without averaging, and evidence from practical considerations, such as the estimated 0.65 % of the population with restricted access to work because of acute RF-EMF symptoms (Bevington, 2019). The World Health Organization (WHO), which funded this review, in 2004 proposed its unproven hypothesis confounding neuropathological effects with the nocebo response (WHO, 2005), despite the latter being inapplicable to unaware adults and children who can both experience acute RF-EMF symptoms without prior psychological conditioning. A review of acute RF-EMF self-reported symptoms from human experimental studies should use and be in agreement with all “available evidence” (Hardell, 2017), without unwarranted assumptions and averaging, in order to avoid disconnect with other evidence, including scientific, about established non-thermal symptoms.
Open access paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on
biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro: A systematic review
of experimental studies (WHO SR 9)
My note: Like
its predecessors, the authors of this SR systematically excluded most
of the relevant research. Most of the meta-analyses in this paper
suffered from high levels of heterogeneity with little effort to
understand the source of the varied results. Some meta-analyses were
unreliable as they violated a key assumption of the random effects
model, namely, independence of observations. I think a critique of this
SR could build a strong case for retraction of this paper.
Meyer
F, Bitsch A, Forman HJ, Fragoulis A, Ghezzi P, Henschenmacher B,
Kellner R, Kuhne J, Ludwig T, Sachno D, Schmid G, Tsaioun K, Verbeek J,
Wright R. The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure
on biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro: A systematic
review of experimental studies. Environment International, 2024. doi:
10.1016/j.envint.2024.108940.
Highlights
The evidence for or against a relation between RF-EMF and biomarkers of oxidative stress is overall of very low certainty.
Inconsistent overall study results.
Need for drastic improvements of studies on RF-EMF and biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Abstract
Background
Oxidative
stress is thought to be related to many diseases. Furthermore, it is
hypothesized that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) may
induce excessive oxidative stress in various cell types and thereby have
the potential to compromise human and animal health. The objective of
this systematic review (SR) is to summarize and evaluate the literature
on the relation between the exposure to RF-EMF in the frequency range
from 100 kHz to 300 GHz and biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Methods
The
SR framework was developed following the guidelines established in the
WHO Handbook for Guideline Development and NTP/OHAT’s Handbook for
Conducting a Literature-Based Health Assessment. We used the latter
handbook’s methodology for implementing the Grading of Recommendations
Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach for
environmental health assessments. We searched the following databases up
until June 30, 2023: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection,
Scopus, and the EMF-Portal. The reference lists of included studies and
retrieved review articles were also manually searched. We rated Risk of
Bias (RoB) using the OHAT RoB Rating Tool and assessed publication bias
using funnel plots of included studies. We assessed the certainty of the
evidence (high, moderate, low, or inadequate) for an association
between RF-EMF and oxidative stress using an adapted version of the
GRADE framework. Data were extracted according to a predefined set of
forms developed in DistillerSR. Data were analysed after grouping them
first as in vitro or in vivo and then according to outcome category,
species category, and exposed tissue. We synthesized study results using
a random effects meta-analysis when study characteristics were judged
sufficiently similar to be combined and heterogeneity (I2) was lower
than 75 %, otherwise we describe the findings narratively.
Results
Fifty-six
(56) studies, 45 in vivo and 11 in vitro, exposed to frequencies in the
range 800–2450 MHz, were included in the SR after eliminating 11,543
publications because they did not meet the criteria defined in the
published protocol (Henschenmacher et al., 2022). Of 56 studies 51
studies with 168 individual results were included in the meta-analysis.
Together, these studies examined six human in vitro samples and fifty
animal samples, including rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, and guinea
pigs, [n = 46]) and rabbits [n = 4]. RF-EMF were predominantly applied
as continuous wave exposures in these studies. The outcome biomarkers
for modified proteins and amino acids were measured in 30 studies, for
oxidized DNA bases in 26 studies, for oxidized lipids in 2 studies and
hydrogen peroxide production in 2 studies. Outcomes were mostly measured
in the brain (n = 22), liver (n = 9), cells (n = 9), blood (n = 6), and
testis (n = 2). RoB in studies was high, mainly due to biases in
exposure and outcome assessment.
In vivo studies
Brain:
The effect on biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases in the rodent brain
(five studies, n = 98) had an inconsistent effect, varying from a large
decrease with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of −3.40 (95 % CI
[−5.15, −1.64]) to a large increase with an SMD of 2.2 (95 % CI [0.78,
3.62]). In the brain of rabbits (two studies, n = 44), the effect sizes
also varied, from an SMD of −1.06 (95 % CI [−2.13, 0.00]) to an SMD of
5.94 (95 % CI [3.14, 8.73]). The effect on biomarkers for modified
proteins and amino acids in the rodent brain (15 studies, n = 328) also
varied from a large decrease with an SMD of −6.11 (95 % CI [−8.16,
−4.06]) to a large increase with an SMD of 5.33 (95 % CI [2.49, 8.17]).
The
effect on biomarkers for oxidized lipids in the brain of rodents (one
study, n = 56) also varied from a large decrease with SMD = −4.10 (95 %
CI [−5.48, −2.73]) to SMD = 1.27 (95 % CI [0.45, 2.10]).
Liver:
The effect on biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases in the rodent liver
(two studies, n = 26) was inconsistent with effect sizes in both
directions: SMD = −0.71 (95 % CI [−1.80, 0.38]) and SMD = 1.56 (95 % CI
[0.19, 2.92]). The effect on biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases in the
rabbits’ liver (two studies, n = 60) was medium with a pooled SMD of
0.39 (95 % CI [−0.79, 1.56]).
Biomarkers
for modified proteins and amino acids in the liver of rodents (six
studies, n = 159) increased with a pooled SMD of 0.55 (95 % CI [0.06,
1.05]).
Blood:
The effect of RF-EMF on biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases in rodent
blood (four studies, n = 104) was inconsistent, with SMDs ranging from
−1.14 (95 % CI [−2.23, −0.06]) to 1.71 (95 % CI [−0.10, 3.53]).
RF-EMF
had no effect on biomarkers for modified proteins and amino acids in
rodent blood (three studies, n = 40), with a pooled SMD of −0.08 (95 %
CI [−1.32, 1.16]).
There
was a large increase in biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases in rodent
plasma (two studies, n = 38) with a pooled SMD of 2.25 (95 % CI [1.27,
3.24]).
Gonads:
There was an increase in biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases in the
rodent testis (two studies, n = 24) with a pooled SMD of 1.60 (95 % CI
[0.62, 2.59]).
The
effect of RF-EMF on biomarkers for modified proteins and amino acids in
the ovary of rodents (two studies, n = 52) was inconsistent with a
small effect, SMD = 0.24 (95 % CI [−0.74, 1.23])) and a large effect
(SMD = 2.08 (95 % CI [1.22, 2.94])).
Thymus:
RF-EMF increased biomarkers for modified proteins and amino acids in
the thymus of rodents (one study, n = 42) considerably with a pooled SMD
of 6.16 (95 % CI [3.55, 8.76]).
Cells:
RF-EMF increased oxidized DNA bases in rodent cells with SMD of 2.49
(95 % CI [1.30, 3.67]) (one study, n = 27). There was a small effect in
oxidized lipids (one study, n = 18) but not statistically significant
with an SMD of 0.34 (95 % CI [−0.62, 1.29]).
In vitro studies
In
in vitro studies in human cells (three studies, n = 112), there were
inconsistent increases in biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases, where the
SMDs varied between 0.01 (95 % CI [−0.59, 0.62]) and 7.74 (95 % CI
[2.24, 13.24]) in 4 results (2 of them statistically significant). In
rodent cells (three studies, n = 24), there was a not statistically
significant large effect in biomarkers for oxidized DNA bases with
SMD = 2.07 (95 % CI [−1.38, 5.52]).
The
RF-EMF biomarkers for modified proteins and amino acids in human cells
(one study, n = 18) showed a large effect with SMD = 1.07 (95 % CI
[−0.05, 2.19]). In rodent cells (two studies, n = 24) a medium effect of
SMD = 0.56 (95 % CI [−0.29, 1.41]) was observed.
Discussion
The
evidence on the relation between the exposure to RF-EMF and biomarkers
of oxidative stress was of very low certainty, because a majority of the
included studies were rated with a high RoB level and provided high
heterogeneity. This is due to inaccurate measurements of exposure and/or
of measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers and missing information
on the blinding of the research personnel. There may be no or an
inconsistent effect of RF-EMF on biomarkers of oxidative stress in the
brain, liver, blood, plasma and serum, and in the female reproductive
system in animal experiments but the evidence is of very low certainty.
There may be an increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress in testes,
serum and thymus of rodents but the evidence is of very low certainty.
Future studies should improve experimental designs and characterization
of exposure systems as well as the use of validated biomarker
measurements with positive controls.
Other:
This review was partially funded by the World Health Organization. The
protocol for this review is registered in PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Open access paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/
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Occupational exposure to radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields and brain tumor risk: application of the
INTEROCC job-exposure matrix
Maxime Turuban, Hans Kromhout, Javier Vila, Miquel Vallbona-Vistos, Frank de Vocht , Baldi, L Richardson, G Benke, D Krewski, E Parent, S Sadetzki, B Schlehofer, J Schuz, J Siemiatycki, M van Tongeren, A Woodward, E Cardis, M Turner. Occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and brain tumor risk: application of the INTEROCC job-exposure matrix. International J Cancer. First published: 20 September 2024. doi: 10.1002/ijc.35182.
Abstract
Radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF, 100 kHz to 300 GHz) are classified by
IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). This study evaluates
the potential association between occupational RF-EMF exposure and
brain tumor risk, utilizing for the first time, a RF-EMF job-exposure
matrix (RF-JEM) developed in the multi-country INTEROCC case-control
study. Cumulative and time-weighted average occupational RF-EMF
exposures were estimated for study participants based on lifetime job
histories linked to the RF-JEM using three different methods: 1) by
considering RF-EMF intensity among all exposed jobs, 2) by considering
RF-EMF intensity among jobs with an exposure prevalence ≥ the median
exposure prevalence of all exposed jobs, and 3) by considering RF-EMF
intensity of jobs of participants who reported RF-EMF source use.
Stratified conditional logistic regression models were used, considering
various lag periods and exposure time windows defined a priori.
Generally, no clear associations were found for glioma or meningioma
risk. However, some statistically significant positive associations were
observed including in the highest exposure categories for glioma for
cumulative and time-weighted average exposure in the 1-4 year time
window for electric fields (E) in the first JEM application method (ORs =
1.36, 95% CI 1.08, 1.72 64 and 1.27, 95% CI 1.01, 1.59 respectively),
as well as for meningioma for cumulative exposure in the 5-9 year time
window for electric fields (E) in the third JEM application method (OR =
2.30, 95% CI 1.11, 4.78). We did not identify convincing associations
between occupational RF-EMF exposure and risk of glioma or meningioma.
What's New?
Radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to
humans. Here, the authors applied a novel job-exposure matrix to
investigate the link between occupational radiofrequency electromagnetic
field exposure and brain tumors within the multi-country INTEROCC
case–control study. The findings revealed no clear associations, despite
some positive findings for gliomas and meningiomas in the 1- to 4- and
5- to 9-year exposure windows. The study underlines the applicability of
the job-exposure matrix in occupational research and the need to
further investigate the association between brain tumors and
occupational radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure
Conclusions
The
previous SEM-based and the current JEM-based analyses (with three ways
of linking the JEM to participant job histories) produced similar
results that fail to show clear trends of associations between various
RF-EMF exposure measures and either glioma or meningioma risk.
Nevertheless, interpretation of current findings remains challenging.
The method of linking JEM estimates to a job only when RF source use was
self-reported led to significantly lower exposure prevalences and
similarly did not suggest clear evidence of increased risk from
occupational IF-RF/RF-EMF exposures. Findings suggest that the RF-JEM
could potentially be used in studies without self-reported information
available on working with or near RF sources.
While we generally found no associations or inverse associations overall, a few positive associations between exposure to IF-RF/RF in cumulative and TWA exposure analyses were found with glioma in Method 1 in the highest exposure category in the 1- to 4-year time window of exposure, and with meningioma in Method 3 in the 5- to 9-year window prior to diagnosis/reference date. However, these statistically significant results, not consistent across analysis methods, could be due to chance, and will require verification in other independent studies. Integrating additional criteria when using JEM, such as exposure prevalence similar to Method 2 in this paper, when attributing exposure levels could be considered in further work. Future improvements of the RF-JEM, including by collecting and integrating personally measured exposure data could be considered.
While we generally found no associations or inverse associations overall, a few positive associations between exposure to IF-RF/RF in cumulative and TWA exposure analyses were found with glioma in Method 1 in the highest exposure category in the 1- to 4-year time window of exposure, and with meningioma in Method 3 in the 5- to 9-year window prior to diagnosis/reference date. However, these statistically significant results, not consistent across analysis methods, could be due to chance, and will require verification in other independent studies. Integrating additional criteria when using JEM, such as exposure prevalence similar to Method 2 in this paper, when attributing exposure levels could be considered in further work. Future improvements of the RF-JEM, including by collecting and integrating personally measured exposure data could be considered.
Open access paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
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Link between Wi-Fi, cordless
devices, mobile phone usage patterns, and behavioral problems among
Japanese children: A prospective cohort study
Ajmal A, Yamazaki K, Tamura N, Ait Bamai Y,
Yoshikawa T, Hikage T, Ikeda A, Kishi R. Link between Wi-Fi, cordless
devices, mobile phone usage patterns, and behavioral problems among
Japanese children: A prospective cohort study. Environ Res. 2024 Aug
1:119715. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119715.
Highlights
- Persistence and change in behavioral problem over one year were assessed and grouped into normal, persistent, improved, and concurrent groups.
- Above 75th percentile mobile phone calls duration via Internet was associated with concurrent total difficulties.
- Cordless phone use at home was associated with improved total difficulties.
- Longer cordless phone call durations were less likely to lead to persistent problematic prosocial behavior.
- The observed findings may not be related to RF-EMF and could be affected by residual confounding and chance findings.
Abstract
Background: With the recent advent of technology, it is important to confirm the health and safety of the youth. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the relationship between Wi-Fi, cordless phones, and mobile phone usage patterns and behavioral problems.
Methods: This study involved 2,465 children aged 8-17 years from the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health from October 2020 to January 2021, with a follow-up from September 2021 to March 2022. The mother-child dyad provided information on the presence of residential Wi-Fi and cordless phones, cordless phone call duration, and mobile phone usage pattern (duration of calls using mobile network and internet, online audio streaming, online video streaming, and playing online games) via a baseline questionnaire. Based on the scores on Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire at baseline and follow-up,the children were categorized into four groups: normal, persistent, improved, and concurrent.
Results: No significant association was found between Wi-Fi, mobile phone calls via mobile networks, and behavioral problems. Cordless phone at home had higher odds for improvement in total difficulty scores, and cordless phone for calling more than 4 minutes per week had lower odds of persistent problematic prosocial behavior. Longer duration of mobile phone calling via the internet (>40 min/week) had higher odds of concurrent total difficulties. Mobile phone calling via mobile network for <5 minutes per week had higher odds for improved total difficulty scores. Audio streaming via mobile phones for 60-120 minutes had lower odds of persistent total difficulties.
Conclusion: Our results showed sporadic findings between residential RF-EMF indoor sources and mobile phone usage pattern. These observed findings could be affected by residual confounding and chance findings. Ongoing follow-up studies are necessary to further explore this association through detailed exposure assessment and addressing the potential limitations of our study.
Background: With the recent advent of technology, it is important to confirm the health and safety of the youth. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the relationship between Wi-Fi, cordless phones, and mobile phone usage patterns and behavioral problems.
Methods: This study involved 2,465 children aged 8-17 years from the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health from October 2020 to January 2021, with a follow-up from September 2021 to March 2022. The mother-child dyad provided information on the presence of residential Wi-Fi and cordless phones, cordless phone call duration, and mobile phone usage pattern (duration of calls using mobile network and internet, online audio streaming, online video streaming, and playing online games) via a baseline questionnaire. Based on the scores on Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire at baseline and follow-up,the children were categorized into four groups: normal, persistent, improved, and concurrent.
Results: No significant association was found between Wi-Fi, mobile phone calls via mobile networks, and behavioral problems. Cordless phone at home had higher odds for improvement in total difficulty scores, and cordless phone for calling more than 4 minutes per week had lower odds of persistent problematic prosocial behavior. Longer duration of mobile phone calling via the internet (>40 min/week) had higher odds of concurrent total difficulties. Mobile phone calling via mobile network for <5 minutes per week had higher odds for improved total difficulty scores. Audio streaming via mobile phones for 60-120 minutes had lower odds of persistent total difficulties.
Conclusion: Our results showed sporadic findings between residential RF-EMF indoor sources and mobile phone usage pattern. These observed findings could be affected by residual confounding and chance findings. Ongoing follow-up studies are necessary to further explore this association through detailed exposure assessment and addressing the potential limitations of our study.
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Evaluating the Effect on Heart Rate
Variability of Adults Exposed to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields
in Modern Office Environment
Dale S, Reiz R, Popa S, Ardelean-Dale A, Keller J, Geier JU. Evaluating the Effect on Heart Rate
Variability of Adults Exposed to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields
in Modern Office Environment. International Journal of Advanced Computer
Science and Applications (IJACSA), 15(6), 2024. doi: 10.14569/IJACSA.2024.0150609.
Abstract
The objective of the study was to investigate whether heart rate
variability (HRV) is an appropriate method to describe potential effects
of RF-EMF on humans considering a modern office environment radiation
level with the frequencies 1.8 GHz (DECT) and 2.45 GHz (Wi-Fi) and an
exposure time of 10 min. The emitters were 1 m distant from the test
subjects. The HRV parameters SDNN, RMSSD, LF and HF were recorded from
60 adults in three runs, totaling up to 154 recordings. Effects were
evident for the parameter SDNN. In two runs, HRV changed from control to
exposure phase, in one run from exposure phase to control. The
cofactors smoking, coffee consumption, and the use of strong medications
did not modulate EMF effects. HRV seems to be suitable to detect
effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields on humans under
certain conditions. In the future, prolonged exposure and new
frequencies (5G) should be included in order to provide a better
description of RF-EMF effects in modern office environments.
--
Hypersensitivity to
man-made electromagnetic fields (EHS) correlates with immune
responsivity to oxidative stress: a case report
Thoradit T, Chabi M, Aguida B, Baouz S,
Stierle V, Pooam M, Tousaints S, Akpovi CD, Ahmad M. Hypersensitivity to
man-made electromagnetic fields (EHS) correlates with immune
responsivity to oxidative stress: a case report. Commun Integr Biol.
2024 Aug 4;17(1):2384874. doi: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2384874.
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that exposure to weak electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by modern telecommunications or household appliances has physiological consequences, including reports of electromagnetic field hypersensitivity (EHS) leading to adverse health effects. Although symptoms can be serious, no underlying mechanism for EHS is known and there is no general cure or effective therapy. Here, we present the case study of a self-reported EHS patient whose symptoms include severe headaches, generalized fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, attention and memory deficit, and generalized systemic pain within minutes of exposure to telecommunications (Wifi, cellular phones), high tension lines and electronic devices. Tests for cerebral, cardiovascular, and other physiological anomalies proved negative, as did serological tests for inflammation, allergies, infections, auto-immune conditions, and hormonal imbalance. However, further investigation revealed deficits in cellular anti-oxidants and increased radical scavenging enzymes, indicative of systemic oxidative stress. Significantly, there was a large increase in circulating antibodies for oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDLox), byproducts of oxidative stress accumulating in membranes of vascular cells. Because a known primary effect of EMF exposure is to increase the concentration of cellular oxidants, we propose that pathology in this patient may be causally related to a resulting increase in LDLox synthesis. This in turn could trigger an exaggerated auto-immune response consistent with EHS symptoms. This case report thereby provides a testable mechanistic framework for EHS pathology with therapeutic implications for this debilitating and poorly understood condition.
Open access paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/
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Effects of 5G
radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on indicators of vitality and
DNA integrity of in vitro exposed boar semen
Butković I, Vince S, Lojkić M, Folnožić I, Tur SM, Vilić M, Malarić K,
Berta V, Samardžija M, Kreszinger M, Žaja IŽ. Effects of 5G
radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on indicators of vitality and
DNA integrity of in vitro exposed boar semen. Theriogenology. 2024 Sep
25;230:243-249. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.
Abstract
The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on semen quality have been in the spotlight in recent years, though research results to date have been contradictory. The effects of RF-EMR amongst others depend upon frequency, and there is currently no literature concerning the influence of 5G frequencies on both DNA integrity and spermatozoa vitality in males. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 5G RF-EMR on sperm membrane integrity, mitochondrial potential, and DNA integrity of in vitro exposed semen of breeding boars. The study included semen samples of eight breeding boars of the Pietren breed and four breeding boars of the German Landrace breed, from 1.5 to 3.5 years in age. Freshly diluted semen of each boar was divided into a control (n = 12) and experimental group (n = 12). The samples of the experimental group were exposed for 2 hours to continuous RF-EMR at a single frequency (700 MHz, 2500 MHz and 3500 MHz) and an electromagnetic field strength of 10 V/m using a transverse gigahertz electromagnetic cell. Sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed using a Halomax® kit and sperm membrane integrity and mitochondrial potential was assessed using a PI⁄SYBR-14 LIVE⁄DEAD viability kit with JC-1. A significantly higher proportion of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation was found in exposed semen samples for all frequencies compared to the control group. The highest DNA damage was recorded in semen samples exposed to 5G RF-EMR at 2500 MHz (p < 0.01) and 3500 MHz (p < 0.05) vs. control semen samples. A significantly higher proportion of spermatozoa with damaged cell membrane and good mitochondrial potential was recorded in semen samples exposed with 3500 MHz. In vitro exposure of breading boar semen to 5G RF-EMR significantly increases the proportion of DNA fragmentation. The harmful effect of 5G RF-EMR on the proportion of spermatozoa with damaged DNA was frequency dependent. The 3500 MHz frequency displayed the most harmful effects due to significant impacts on DNA integrity and spermatozoa vitality indicators.
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Study of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects induced in human fibroblasts by
exposure to pulsed and continuous 1.6 GHz radiofrequency
Massaro L, De Sanctis S , Franchini V, Regalbuto E, Alfano G, Focaccetti C, Benvenuto M, Cifaldi L, Sgura A, Berardinelli F, Marinaccio J, Barbato F, Rossi E, Nardozi D, Masuelli L, Bei R, Lista F. Study of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects induced in human fibroblasts by exposure to pulsed and continuous 1.6 GHz radiofrequency. Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 12. 2024. doi:
10.3389/fpubh.2024.1419525.
Abstract
Abstract
Background The widespread use of radiofrequency (RF) sources, ranging from household appliances to telecommunications devices and military equipment, raises concerns among people and regulatory agencies about the potential health risks of RF exposure. Consequently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have been done to investigate the biological effects, in particular non-thermal, of this non-ionizing radiation. To date, this issue is still being debated due to the controversial results that have been reported. Furthermore, the impact of different RF signal modulations on biological systems remains poorly investigated. The present in vitro study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of continuous or pulsed 1.6 GHz RF in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF).
Methods HDF cultures were exposed to continuous and pulsed 1.6 GHz RF, for 2 h, with Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 0.4 W/kg. The potential biological effects of 1.6 GHz RF on HDF were assessed with a multi-methodological approach, analyzing the effects on cell cycle, ultrastructure, protein expression, mitotic spindle, CREST stained micronuclei, chromosome segregation and γ-H2AX/53BP1 foci.
Results 1.6 GHz RF exposure modified proteins expression and morphology of HDF. Specifically, the expression of different heat-shock proteins (HSP) (i.e., HSP-90, HSP-60, and HSP-25) and phospho-AKT were affected. In addition, both continuous and pulsed RF modified the cytoskeletal organization in HDF and increased the number of lysosomes, while the formation of autophagosomes was observed only after pulsed RF exposure. Mitotic spindle anomalies were also found after exposure. However, no significant effect was observed on cell cycle, chromosome segregation, CREST-stained micronuclei and γ-H2AX/53BP1 foci.
Conclusion The results of the present study show the absence of genotoxic damage in 1.6 GHz RF exposed HDF and, although mitotic spindle alterations were observed, they did not have an aneugenic effect. On the other hand, changes in some proteins expression and cell ultrastructure in exposed HDF suggest that RF can potentially induce cell alterations at the morphological and molecular levels.
Excerpt
In this controversial scientific scenario, our results are in agreement with most in vitro findings on different cell models about the lack of genotoxic damage induced by RF, either clastogenic or aneugenic. Despite this, we find alterations of the mitotic spindle, with a significant increase in multipolar spindles following PW exposure and we also observed a tendency of RF to induce non-disjunction events with both signals. However, our study reveals an increase in these spindle abnormalities without a concomitant increase in MN-positive CREST, suggesting no aneuploidy effect probably due to spindle abnormalities reversion, as proposed by other authors (78). Nonetheless, this apparent discordant result requires further investigations.
The reported observations indeed highlight the complexity of cellular response to RF and emphasize the need for further investigations to clarify the overall biological effects of 1.6 GHz PW and CW RF, given the widespread and constant public RF-EMF exposure, mostly due to mobile communication devices.
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Pulsed High-Power Radio Frequency Energy Can Cause Non-Thermal Harmful Effects on the BRAIN
Yaghmazadeh
O. Pulsed High-Power Radio Frequency Energy Can Cause Non-Thermal
Harmful Effects on the BRAIN. IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in
Medicine and Biology, 5:50-53, 2024. doi: 10.1109/OJEMB.2024.3355301.
Abstract
High-power
microwave applications are growing for both military and civil
purposes, yet they can induce brain-related risks and raise important
public health concerns. High-power sub-millisecond radio frequency
energy pulses have been demonstrated to be able to induce neurological
and neuropathological changes in the brain while being compliant with
current regulatory guidelines’ limits, highlighting the necessity of
revising them.
Impact Statement
This
commentary piece looks into the different mechanisms of interaction of
pulsed versus continuous-wave RF energy radiation and the brain. It also
highlights potential harmful effects of pulsed high-power RF energy on
the brain.
Open access paper: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/
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External RF-EMF alters cell number and ROS balance possibly via the regulation of NADPH metabolism and apoptosis
Chow S-C, Zhang Y, Ng RWM , Hui S-YR , Solov’yov IA , Lui W-Y. External RF-EMF alters cell number and ROS balance possibly via the regulation of NADPH metabolism and apoptosis. Frontiers in Public Health. 12 (2024). doi:
10.3389/fpubh.2024.1425023.
Abstract
The influence of weak radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on
living organisms raises new concern because of the Industrial,
Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band at 6.78 MHz being promoted
by the AirFuel Alliance for mid-range wireless power transfer (WPT)
applications and product development. Human exposure to the RF-EMF
radiation is unavoidable. In this study, we employed in vitro
cell culture and molecular biology approach coupled with integrated
transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to uncover the effects of RF-EMF
on cells at molecular and cellular levels. Our study has demonstrated
that weak RF-EMF is sufficient to exert non-thermal effects on human
umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Exposure of weak RF-EMF
promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and deregulates ROS
balance. Alteration of several signaling pathways and key enzymes
involved in NADPH metabolism, cell proliferation and ferroptosis were
identified. Our current study provide solid evidence for the first time
that the present safety standards that solely considered the thermal
effect of RF-EMF on cell tissue are inadequate, prompt response and
modification of existing Guidelines, Standards and Regulation are
warranted.
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No observable
non-thermal effect of microwave radiation on the growth of microtubules
Hammarin G, Norder P, Harimoorthy R, Chen G, Berntsen P, Widlund PO,
Stoij C, Rodilla H, Swenson J, Brändén G, Neutze R. No observable
non-thermal effect of microwave radiation on the growth of microtubules.
Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 7;14(1):18286. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68852-3.
Abstract
Despite widespread public interest in the health impact of exposure to microwave radiation, studies of the influence of microwave radiation on biological samples are often inconclusive or contradictory. Here we examine the influence of microwave radiation of frequencies 3.5 GHz, 20 GHz and 29 GHz on the growth of microtubules, which are biological nanotubes that perform diverse functions in eukaryotic cells. Since microtubules are highly polar and can extend several micrometres in length, they are predicted to be sensitive to non-ionizing radiation. Moreover, it has been speculated that tubulin dimers within microtubules might rapidly toggle between different conformations, potentially participating in computational or other cooperative processes. Our data show that exposure to microwave radiation yields a microtubule growth curve that is distorted relative to control studies utilizing a homogeneous temperature jump. However, this apparent effect of non-ionizing radiation is reproduced by control experiments using an infrared laser or hot air to heat the sample and thereby mimic the thermal history of samples exposed to microwaves. As such, no non-thermal effects of microwave radiation on microtubule growth can be assigned. Our results highlight the need for appropriate control experiments in biophysical studies that may impact on the sphere of public interest.
Open access paper: https://www.nature.com/
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Exploring edible bird nest's potential in mitigating Wi-Fi's impact on male reproductive health
Maluin SM, Jaffar FHF, Osman K, Zulkefli AF, Mat Ros MF, Ibrahim SF. Exploring edible bird nest's potential in mitigating Wi-Fi's impact on male reproductive health. Reprod Med Biol. 2024 Sep 11;23(1):e12606. doi: 10.1002/rmb2.12606.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of edible bird nest (EBN) against the detrimental impact of Wi-Fi on male reproductive health. Specifically, it examines whether EBN can mitigate Wi-Fi-induced changes in male reproductive hormones, estrogen receptors (ER), spermatogenesis, and sperm parameters.
Methods: Thirty-six adult male rats were divided into six groups (n = 6): Control, Control EBN, Control E2, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi+EBN, and Wi-Fi+E2. Control EBN and Wi-Fi+EBN groups received 250 mg/kg/day EBN, while Control E2 and Wi-Fi+E2 groups received 12 μg/kg/day E2 for 10 days. Wi-Fi exposure and EBN supplementation lasted eight weeks. Assessments included organ weight, hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone, and E2), ERα/ERβ mRNA and protein expression, spermatogenic markers (c-KIT and SCF), and sperm quality.
Results: Wi-Fi exposure led to decreased FSH, testosterone, ERα mRNA, and sperm quality (concentration, motility, and viability). EBN supplementation restored serum FSH and testosterone levels, increased serum LH levels, and the testosterone/E2 ratio, and normalized mRNA ERα expression. Additionally, EBN increased sperm concentration in Wi-Fi-exposed rats without affecting motility or viability.
Conclusions: EBN plays a crucial role in regulating male reproductive hormones and spermatogenesis, leading to improved sperm concentration. This could notably benefit men experiencing oligospermia due to excessive Wi-Fi exposure.
Excerpts
Wi-Fi exposure setting: For Wi-Fi exposure, this study utilized the TP-LINK AC750 Wireless Dual Band Wi-Fi Router Archer C20 (Shenzhen, China). This router features three external antennas, emitting signals at a frequency of 2.45 GHz using the IEEE 802.11n standard. The router was positioned 20 cm away from the rat cages and constantly exchanged data with a Raspberry Pi device through a ping protocol.3 The router was selected for its minimal vibration and noise output, which is typical for standard Wi-Fi routers used in laboratory settings. Additionally, the rats were housed in a controlled environment designed to minimize external disturbances, ensuring the reliability of our findings related to Wi-Fi exposure effects on male reproductive health.
Conclusion: This study highlights the negative impact of eight weeks of Wi-Fi exposure on sperm quality, including decreased concentration, motility, and viability, which can be ascribed to changes in male reproductive hormones. EBN supplementation appears to be a preventive intervention, significantly increasing gonadotrophin and testosterone levels, as well as sperm concentration in Wi-Fi-exposed rats, but not influencing sperm motility or viability. Furthermore, it increases the T/E2 ratio and restores estrogenic activity in the testes, resulting in enhanced sperm concentration. The study also reveals a discrepancy between the impacts of EBN supplementation and E2 treatment on sperm concentration in a Wi-Fi-exposed setting, emphasizing EBN's unique protective properties without adverse effects on male reproduction. In conclusion, EBN supplementation effectively restores spermatogenesis capabilities that are affected by Wi-Fi-induced damage. This is achieved through the modulation of male reproductive hormones, with a primary influence on sperm concentration. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms and establish safe usage limits for maximizing the benefits of EBN while minimizing potential risks.
Open access paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
Maluin SM, Jaffar FHF, Osman K, Zulkefli AF, Mat Ros MF, Ibrahim SF. Exploring edible bird nest's potential in mitigating Wi-Fi's impact on male reproductive health. Reprod Med Biol. 2024 Sep 11;23(1):e12606. doi: 10.1002/rmb2.12606.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of edible bird nest (EBN) against the detrimental impact of Wi-Fi on male reproductive health. Specifically, it examines whether EBN can mitigate Wi-Fi-induced changes in male reproductive hormones, estrogen receptors (ER), spermatogenesis, and sperm parameters.
Methods: Thirty-six adult male rats were divided into six groups (n = 6): Control, Control EBN, Control E2, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi+EBN, and Wi-Fi+E2. Control EBN and Wi-Fi+EBN groups received 250 mg/kg/day EBN, while Control E2 and Wi-Fi+E2 groups received 12 μg/kg/day E2 for 10 days. Wi-Fi exposure and EBN supplementation lasted eight weeks. Assessments included organ weight, hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone, and E2), ERα/ERβ mRNA and protein expression, spermatogenic markers (c-KIT and SCF), and sperm quality.
Results: Wi-Fi exposure led to decreased FSH, testosterone, ERα mRNA, and sperm quality (concentration, motility, and viability). EBN supplementation restored serum FSH and testosterone levels, increased serum LH levels, and the testosterone/E2 ratio, and normalized mRNA ERα expression. Additionally, EBN increased sperm concentration in Wi-Fi-exposed rats without affecting motility or viability.
Conclusions: EBN plays a crucial role in regulating male reproductive hormones and spermatogenesis, leading to improved sperm concentration. This could notably benefit men experiencing oligospermia due to excessive Wi-Fi exposure.
Excerpts
Wi-Fi exposure setting: For Wi-Fi exposure, this study utilized the TP-LINK AC750 Wireless Dual Band Wi-Fi Router Archer C20 (Shenzhen, China). This router features three external antennas, emitting signals at a frequency of 2.45 GHz using the IEEE 802.11n standard. The router was positioned 20 cm away from the rat cages and constantly exchanged data with a Raspberry Pi device through a ping protocol.3 The router was selected for its minimal vibration and noise output, which is typical for standard Wi-Fi routers used in laboratory settings. Additionally, the rats were housed in a controlled environment designed to minimize external disturbances, ensuring the reliability of our findings related to Wi-Fi exposure effects on male reproductive health.
Conclusion: This study highlights the negative impact of eight weeks of Wi-Fi exposure on sperm quality, including decreased concentration, motility, and viability, which can be ascribed to changes in male reproductive hormones. EBN supplementation appears to be a preventive intervention, significantly increasing gonadotrophin and testosterone levels, as well as sperm concentration in Wi-Fi-exposed rats, but not influencing sperm motility or viability. Furthermore, it increases the T/E2 ratio and restores estrogenic activity in the testes, resulting in enhanced sperm concentration. The study also reveals a discrepancy between the impacts of EBN supplementation and E2 treatment on sperm concentration in a Wi-Fi-exposed setting, emphasizing EBN's unique protective properties without adverse effects on male reproduction. In conclusion, EBN supplementation effectively restores spermatogenesis capabilities that are affected by Wi-Fi-induced damage. This is achieved through the modulation of male reproductive hormones, with a primary influence on sperm concentration. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms and establish safe usage limits for maximizing the benefits of EBN while minimizing potential risks.
Open access paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
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Spots with Extremely High Radiofrequency Radiation After Deployment of 5G Base Stations in Stockholm, Sweden
Hardell
L, Koppel T. Spots with Extremely High Radiofrequency Radiation After
Deployment of 5G Base Stations in Stockholm, Sweden. Ann Clin Med Case
Rep. 2024; V14(4): 1-8.
Abstract
During
recent years there is an on-going deployment of 5G base stations for
radiofrequency [RF] communication in Sweden as well in many other
countries. This is made without investigations on risks to human health
and the environment. Since 2016 we have made several measurements of
environmental exposure to RF radiation in Stockholm, Sweden, including
previous generations and now also 5G. In the current study, performed in
October 2023, the broadband meter Narda-550 with the probe EF-1891 was
used. It gives results in the root mean square [RMS] mode, thus not peak
levels. Both the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation
Protection [ICNIRP] and the US Federal Communications Commission [FCC]
base their guidelines on RMS levels of RF radiation. Measurements were
made in similar city areas as in our previous studies. Results show that
the RF radiation has increased substantially. High maximum levels were
found at e.g. the Central Railway Station [3 637 191 μW/m2], and popular
walking streets such as Mäster Samuelsgatan [11 613 976 μW/m2], and
Drottninggatan [5 271 555 μW/m2]. The peak values would be much higher.
These levels are in the same magnitude or even higher than those
measured in homes of persons that rapidly developed symptoms of the
microwave syndrome after installation of 5G, usually in combination with
4G+, in the neighborhood. They are also substantially higher than
levels that have previously been linked to cancer and the microwave
syndrome in studies of people living near base stations and masts from
previous generations of telecommunications.
Open access paper: https://acmcasereport.org/wp-
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Mobile Phone
Emissions in 5G FR1: Using Statistic Inferences and Deep Learning for
Empiric Features Extraction
Miclaus S, Deaconescu DB, Vatamanu D, Buda AM. Mobile Phone
Emissions in 5G FR1: Using Statistic Inferences and Deep Learning for
Empiric Features Extraction. 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Measurements & Networking (M&N), Rome, Italy, 2024, pp. 01-06, doi: 10.1109/MN60932.2024.10615263.
Abstract
As the primary source of human exposure to electromagnetic fields, the
emission of a 5G mobile phone is quantified for several mobile
applications use. Following the time variability of the exposure, its
peak levels and their statistic distributions, together with the
time-frequency change in the spectrograms, we emphasize the
peculiarities of the exposure in connection to modulation scheme used
and to the application. The results show notable differences in
amplitude probability densities, in complementary cumulative density
functions and in repeatability of time-frequency features of the
emissions.
Excerpts
It
has been recently proved that the main exposure source of a person is
the mobile phone itself [5], [6]. The study results of [7] confirmed
that the human
exposure in a 5G network is dominated by the uplink, and can be ten times larger than the downlink exposure....
exposure in a 5G network is dominated by the uplink, and can be ten times larger than the downlink exposure....
Conducting
measurements in real-life situations contributes to true assessment of
the field exposure impact. It is essential to interpret all the findings
on the background of dosimetric determinations and based on present
regulatory guidelines [16], [17]. However, studies like [18] - [20]
clearly pointed out that “cell phones emit a succession of pulse trains
of different durations, the instantaneous fields of such signals allow
activation of molecular, electronic, and protonic components within
cells that have different thresholds and relaxation times, enriching the
non-thermal effects of radiofrequency fields”.
In the current work we aimed to analyze the exposure situation generated by a 5G mobile phone in a static position, while emitting signals in a 100 MHz bandwidth centered on 3.58 GHz. While using four different mobile applications running on the phone ...
An
Iphone 14pro (model A 2890, Apple, Zhengzhou, China) was the source of
the emissions. It was maintained in a stationary position and connected
to the 5G mobile network - Orange Romania operator. The central
frequency was f=3.58 GHz, the bandwidth was 100 MHz and Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme was used....
... the phone was situated at the cell edge and it received a good downlink signal.
The
receiving system was composed of a signal analyzer model FSW from Rhode
& Schwarz, with a real time bandwidth of 160 MHz connected to a
receiving antenna model Aaronia Omnilog 30800 (Fig. 1)....
...
video streaming conducted to the highest mean emitted powers, while
upload provokes the highest peak powers. Crest factors are the largest
when a file is uploaded, and they can exceed 20 dB....
Variations of 19 dB around mean power is equivalent to a factor of approximately 8 x 10**3. Such a large variability during so short time (ms), may pose challenging biological response. The
trends in the excessive exceedance of the mean power depend at least on
mobile application type and on the modulation scheme. From this
perspective, the tail features of time-variability of the exposure level
may trigger unexpected consequences....
CONCLUSIONS
A
mobile phone connected to a 5G-NR network in FR1 band was investigated
for its emitted EMF level and the associated time-variability
characterization (during 250 ms), in four situations of usage: during
file-upload, file-download, video call and Internet streaming. The
measurement set-up consisted in a receiving antenna mostly planar and
parallel to the phone’s display connected to a vector signal analyzer
with a capability of analysing bandwidth larger than the communication
bandwidth (100 MHz). The antenna collected the field of the phone at 30
cm distance from it, and had an omnidirectional pattern in azimuth....
All the results showed that the uplink EMF level is far below the safe limit based on thermal effects of human exposure. However, other important features evolved and they may be further linked to the non-thermal/specific effects of microwaves....
When
it comes to the prevalence of peaks in the exposure, it resulted that
crest factors varied mostly in function of the mobile application used
but also, in a lower measure, in function on the modulation scheme. The
largest crest factors were more than one order of magnitude higher than
the smallest ones, overall. Mean and peak powers of emissions could
deviate from each other with approximately two orders of magnitude, for
the same mobile application. Such short and pronounced extremes should
be carefully investigated from the biological endpoint of view.
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Estimates and measurements of
radiofrequency exposures in smart-connected homes
Joyner K, Milligan M, Knipe P. Estimates and measurements of
radiofrequency exposures in smart-connected homes. Bioelectromagnetics.
2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1002/bem.22518.
Abstract
The aim of this research was to quantify the levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy (RF-EME) in a residential home/apartment equipped with a range of wireless devices, often referred to as internet of things (IoT) devices or smart devices and subsequently develop a tool that could be useful for estimating the levels of RF-EME in a domestic environment. Over the course of 3 years measurements were performed in peoples' homes on a total of 43 devices across 16 device categories. Another 12 devices were measured in detail in a laboratory setup. In all a total of 55 individual devices across 23 device categories were measured. Based on this measurement data we developed predictive software that showed that even with a single device in 23 device categories operating near maximum they would, in total, produce exposures at a distance of 1 m of 0.17% of the ICNIRP (2020) public exposure limits. Measurements were also made in two separate smart apartments—one contained over 50 IoT devices and a second with over 100 IoT devices with the devices driven as hard as could reasonably be achieved. The respective 6-min average exposure level recorded were 0.0077% and 0.44% of the ICNIRP (2020) 30-min average public exposure limit.
Excerpts
.... Based on all of these measurements, we have developed predictive software that can be used to estimate exposure levels on a conservative basis by incorporating a 3 dB enhancement to produce a realistic upper bound for the exposure estimation. The RF estimator tool, which is available from the Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF) website (www.mwfai.org), has a drop-down menu that allows the selection of multiple IoT devices and separation distances and returns an estimate of the exposure level that could be expected in the home environment. Devices in neighboring rooms can be included in the software by selecting the appropriate device and distance. However, because of the inverse square dependence with distance and the attenuation through walls, the majority contribution in a particular room is determined by the proximity of devices in that room. Future work will include the expansion of the device categories and the inclusion of wall/window attenuation to account for neighboring homes and apartments.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT This work was fully funded by the Mobile and Wireless Forum (www.mwfai.org) and that KJ and MM are contractored by the MWF.
Open access paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
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Review Antenna Design for Modern Mobile Phones: A Review
Wang
Y, Sun L, Du Z, Zhang Z. Review Antenna Design for Modern Mobile
Phones: A Review. Electromagnetic Science, 2(2):1-36. June 2024, doi:
10.23919/emsci.2023.0052.
Abstract
Due
to limited antenna space, high communication requirements, and strict
regulatory constraints, the design of antennas for modern mobile phones
has become an exceedingly challenging task. In recent years, numerous
studies have been conducted in this area, leading to significant
advancements. This review paper comprehensively summarizes recent
progress made in antenna design for modern mobile phones. Firstly, the
challenges faced in antenna design for modern mobile phones are
described, including bandwidth enhancement, integration and decoupling
techniques, mm-wave array antennas, satellite communication antennas, as
well as interactions between mobile antennas and the human body.
Secondly, the basic antenna types (such as inverted-F, slot, loop, and
planar inverted-F antennas) commonly used in modern metal-bezel mobile
phones along with their key characteristics are briefly summarized.
Thirdly, the commonly employed methods used in practical applications
for designing wideband antennas within compact sizes and achieving
decoupling among multiple antennas with wide bandwidths are collected.
Fourthly, recent advances in the design of compact, wideband, and
wide-angle scanning mm-wave arrays for modern mobile phones are
summarized. Fifthly, recent progress made in satellite communication
antenna designs for modern mobile phones, including broadside and
end-fire radiation patterns, is presented. Sixthly, recent studies on
the interaction between mobile antennas and the human body are briefly
concluded. Finally, the future challenge of antenna design for mobile
phones is briefly discussed. It is our hope that this comprehensive
review will provide readers with a systematic understanding of antenna
design principles applicable to modern mobile phones.
Excerpts
"Currently, with the improvement of communication requirements and the evolution of communication specifications, the number of antennas in smartphones has reached 20–30 (as depicted in Figure 3), including the following antennas:
Four antennas for LB (low band): 698–960 MHz;
Four antennas for MHB (mid- and high-band) MIMO operation: 1710–2690 MHz;
Four antennas for 5G New Radio (NR) band MIMO operation: 3300–4200 MHz & 4400–5000 MHz;
Two or more dual-band millimeter-wave AiP antennas: 24.25-29.50 GHz and 37.00-43.50 GHz;
One or more satellite communication antennas: the operating band is the L- or S-band;
Two GNSS (global navigation satellite system) antennas: GPS L5 at 1176 MHz and GPS L1 at 1575 MHz;
Two to four tri-band WiFi (wireless fidelity) and BT (Bluetooth) antennas: 2400–2484 MHz, 5150–5350 MHz, and 5725–5825 MHz;
One NFC (near field communication) antenna: 13.56 MHz;
Three UWB (ultra-wideband) antennas: 6240–6740 MHz and 7750–8250 MHz."
"In [199],
the interaction principle of antenna radiation fields with nearby human
bodies are analyzed by using electromagnetic boundary conditions. Under
these boundary conditions, the horizontal E-field penetrates human
tissue more easily than the vertical E-field does [199], as shown in Figure 49. Thus, mobile antennas with a vertical E-field have a higher on-body efficiency and lower SAR. As shown in Figure 50,
a smartwatch antenna with a vertical E-field has a weak E-field in the
human body, thus, the performance of an antenna with a vertical E-field
is approximately 4 dB greater than that of an antenna with a horizontal
E-field [200], [201].
Additionally, the vertical E-field method can also be applied to
ear-bar TWS earphones, which can improve the antenna performance from
19.1% to 30.9% with a vertical E-field [202]."
Open access paper: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/
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High Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure in Paediatric and Female Patients with Implanted Cardiac Pacemaker
Bacova F, Benova M, Psenakova Z, Smetana M, Pacek M, Ochodnicky J. High Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure in Paediatric and Female Patients with Implanted Cardiac Pacemaker. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(16):7198. doi: 10.3390/app14167198.
Abstract
This
article investigates the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) from
mobile phones on human tissues and implanted medical devices. The
intensity of the electric field (E) is evaluated based on simulations
and measurements of various exposure scenarios. An area of interest is
the case of a person with an implanted device (heart pacemaker) who may
be affected by this exposure. Due to the rapid development of
communication technologies and the growing awareness of the potential
health risks of radio frequency (RF) EMF, the International Commission
on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has established exposure
limits within the European Union. Our study models and analyses EMF
values in human tissues in an ideal environment, in a situation where a
person uses a mobile phone in the DCS (Digital Cellular System) band,
including the case of a person with an implanted pacemaker. Pilot
simulations were verified by experimental measurements. Based on them,
specific human models with the best matching results were selected for
modelling other possible interactions of exogenous EMF and cardiac
pacemaker in the same situations and locations
Excerpt
Based on our simulations
and experimental measurements, we found that maintaining a minimum
distance of 15 cm between the mobile phone and the pacemaker is not
sufficient to ensure patient safety. Our results show that even at a
distance of 30 cm, the E values for the models were: MM—54.96 V/m, for
Child—65.34 V/m, for Laura—62.81 V/m, and measurements—52.72 In M. In
the case of the Child and Laura complex models, the E values still
exceeded the exposure limit of 58 V/m for a frequency of 1800 MHz. Our
recommendation is to push this limit up to more than 30 cm.
Another
recommendation is protective equipment that reduces the exposure of
parts of the human body to EMF. However, these aids must have a
certificate of satisfactory EM compatibility.
Open access paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-
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Importance of magnetic information for neuronal plasticity in desert ants
Grob R, Müller VL, Grübel K, Fleischmann PN. Importance of magnetic information for neuronal plasticity in desert ants. PNAS. 2024. 121 (8) e2320764121. doi: pnas.2320764121.
Significance
The Earth’s magnetic field is an essential navigational cue for many animal species. However, where in the brain magnetic information is processed is still little understood. In this paper, we analyzed structural neuronal plasticity in the brain of Cataglyphis desert ants following sky-compass calibration under permanently manipulated magnetic field conditions. Our results demonstrate that information from the Earth’s magnetic field is integrated into the ants’ internal compass (central complex) and into the learning and memory centers (mushroom bodies). Together with our behavioral analyses, the results show that the ants use magnetic information both as a navigational compass and as a reference system for visual compass calibration.
Abstract
Many animal species rely on the Earth’s magnetic field during navigation, but where in the brain magnetic information is processed is still unknown. To unravel this, we manipulated the natural magnetic field at the nest entrance of Cataglyphis desert ants and investigated how this affects relevant brain regions during early compass calibration. We found that manipulating the Earth’s magnetic field has profound effects on neuronal plasticity in two sensory integration centers. Magnetic field manipulations interfere with a typical look-back behavior during learning walks of naive ants. Most importantly, structural analyses in the ants’ neuronal compass (central complex) and memory centers (mushroom bodies) demonstrate that magnetic information affects neuronal plasticity during early visual learning. This suggests that magnetic information does not only serve as a compass cue for navigation but also as a global reference system crucial for spatial memory formation. We propose a neural circuit for integration of magnetic information into visual guidance networks in the ant brain. Taken together, our results provide an insight into the neural substrate for magnetic navigation in insects.
Grob R, Müller VL, Grübel K, Fleischmann PN. Importance of magnetic information for neuronal plasticity in desert ants. PNAS. 2024. 121 (8) e2320764121. doi: pnas.2320764121.
Significance
The Earth’s magnetic field is an essential navigational cue for many animal species. However, where in the brain magnetic information is processed is still little understood. In this paper, we analyzed structural neuronal plasticity in the brain of Cataglyphis desert ants following sky-compass calibration under permanently manipulated magnetic field conditions. Our results demonstrate that information from the Earth’s magnetic field is integrated into the ants’ internal compass (central complex) and into the learning and memory centers (mushroom bodies). Together with our behavioral analyses, the results show that the ants use magnetic information both as a navigational compass and as a reference system for visual compass calibration.
Abstract
Many animal species rely on the Earth’s magnetic field during navigation, but where in the brain magnetic information is processed is still unknown. To unravel this, we manipulated the natural magnetic field at the nest entrance of Cataglyphis desert ants and investigated how this affects relevant brain regions during early compass calibration. We found that manipulating the Earth’s magnetic field has profound effects on neuronal plasticity in two sensory integration centers. Magnetic field manipulations interfere with a typical look-back behavior during learning walks of naive ants. Most importantly, structural analyses in the ants’ neuronal compass (central complex) and memory centers (mushroom bodies) demonstrate that magnetic information affects neuronal plasticity during early visual learning. This suggests that magnetic information does not only serve as a compass cue for navigation but also as a global reference system crucial for spatial memory formation. We propose a neural circuit for integration of magnetic information into visual guidance networks in the ant brain. Taken together, our results provide an insight into the neural substrate for magnetic navigation in insects.
