Radiofrequency Exposure Research Articles

Does radiofrequency radiation impact sleep? A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study.

The most common source of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) exposures during sleep includes digital devices, yet there are no studies investigating the impact of multi-night exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted from a baby monitor on sleep under real-world conditions in healthy adults. Given the rise in the number of people reporting to be sensitive to manmade electromagnetic fields, the ubiquitous use of Wi-Fi enabled digital devices and the lack of real-world data, we investigated the effect of 2.45 GHz radiofrequency exposure during sleep on subjective sleep quality, and objective sleep measures, heart rate variability and actigraphy in healthy adults. This pilot study was a 4-week randomised, double-blind, crossover trial of 12 healthy adults. After a one-week run-in period, participants were randomised to exposure from either an active or inactive (sham) baby monitor for 7 nights and then crossed over to the alternate intervention after a one-week washout period. Subjective and objective assessments of sleep included the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale (PIRS-20), electroencephalography (EEG), actigraphy and heart rate variability (HRV) derived from electrocardiogram. Sleep quality was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) and clinically meaningful during RF-EMF exposure compared to sham-exposure as indicated by the PIRS-20 scores. Furthermore, at higher frequencies (gamma, beta and theta bands), EEG power density significantly increased during the Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences in HRV or actigraphy were detected. Our findings suggest that exposure to a 2.45 GHz radiofrequency device (baby monitor) may impact sleep in some people under real-world conditions however further large-scale real-world investigations with specified dosimetry are required to confirm these findings.

Frequency-Dependent Antioxidant Responses in HT-1080 Human Fibrosarcoma Cells Exposed to Weak Radio Frequency Fields.

This study explores the complex relationship between radio frequency (RF) exposure and cancer cells, focusing on the HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cell line. We investigated the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase, and glutathione (GSH), as well as mitochondrial superoxide levels and cell viability. Exposure to RF fields in the 2-5 MHz range at very weak intensities (20 nT) over 4 days resulted in distinct, frequency-specific cellular effects. Significant increases in SOD and GSH levels were observed at 4 and 4.5 MHz, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial superoxide levels and enhanced cell viability, suggesting improved mitochondrial function. In contrast, lower frequencies like 2.5 MHz induced oxidative stress, evidenced by GSH depletion and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. The findings demonstrate that cancer cells exhibit frequency-specific sensitivity to RF fields even at intensities significantly below current safety standards, highlighting the need to reassess exposure limits. Additionally, our analysis of the radical pair mechanism (RPM) offers deeper insight into RF-induced cellular responses. The modulation of ROS and antioxidant enzyme activities is significant for cancer treatment and has broader implications for age-related diseases, where oxidative stress is a central factor in cellular degeneration. The findings propose that RF fields may serve as a therapeutic tool to selectively modulate oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in cancer cells, with antioxidants playing a key role in mitigating potential adverse effects.

Comparison of a radiofrequency electric and magnetic field source-based job-exposure matrix with personal radiofrequency exposure measurements.

Assessing occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) presents significant challenges due to the considerable variability in exposure levels within and between occupations. This spatial and temporal variability complicates the reliable evaluation of potential health risks associated with RF-EMF exposure in the workplace. Accurate assessment methods are crucial to understand the extent of exposure and to evaluate potential health risks, especially given the potential for higher exposures in occupational settings compared to the general population. This study compares the historical RF-EMF exposure estimates in the INTEROCC RF-EMF job-exposure matrix (RF-JEM) with recent personal measurement data collected in 2 countries as part of the OccRF-Health study, to assess the broader applicability of the RF-JEM. Weighted kappa (k w) coefficients and Spearman rank correlation tests were performed to assess the alignment between RF-JEM estimates and measurements for 8h time-weighted average exposure intensity and prevalence estimates across various occupations. The comparisons were mainly based on 22 jobs having ≥5 measured workers in the OccRF-Health study. Poor agreement was found for both exposure prevalence and intensity between both methods (k w < 0.1). RF-JEM values likely overestimated exposure levels for both electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields (mean percentage difference >194%) compared to current personal measurements. Findings suggest that the INTEROCC-JEM likely overestimates current exposure intensity levels in the measured jobs. Adopting a semiquantitative JEM could also mitigate misclassification errors due to exposure variability, improving accuracy in exposure assessment. These findings indicate the need for more targeted personal measurements, including among highly exposed workers, and for potentially considering new exposure metrics to more accurately assess occupational RF-EMF exposures in occupational epidemiological research.

Protective effect of radiofrequency exposure against menadione-induced oxidative DNA damage in human neuroblastoma cells: The role of exposure duration and investigation on key molecular targets.

In our previous studies, we demonstrated that 20 h pre-exposure of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells to 1950 MHz, UMTS signal, at specific absorption rate of 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg, was able to reduce the oxidative DNA damage induced by a subsequent treatment with menadione in the alkaline comet assay while not inducing genotoxicity per se. In this study, the same cell model was used to test the same experimental conditions by setting different radiofrequency exposure duration and timing along the 72 h culture period. The results obtained in at least three independent experiments indicate that shorter exposure durations than 20 h, that is, 10, 3, and 1 h per day for 3 days, were still capable to exert the protective effect while not inducing DNA damage per se. In addition, to provide some hints into the mechanisms underpinning the observed phenomenon, thioredoxin-1, heat shock transcription factor 1, heat shock protein 70, and poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1, as key molecular players involved in the cellular stress response, were tested following 3 h of radiofrequency exposure in western blot and qRT-PCR experiments. No effect resulted from molecular analysis under the experimental conditions adopted.

Radiofrequency field inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells via modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of radiofrequency exposure on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells, along with the underlying mechanisms. RAW264.7 cells were subjected to radiofrequency exposure at three distinct power densities: 50 µW/cm2, 150 µW/cm2, and 450 µW/cm2. The results showed that, among the three dosage levels, exposure to 150 µW/cm2 of radiofrequency radiation significantly reduced the proliferation capacity of RAW264.7 cells. RF exposure at three power densities resulted in significant increases in the level of osteoclast apoptosis and notable decreases in osteoclast differentiation. Notably, the most pronounced effects on apoptosis, differentiation in RAW 264.7 cells were observed at the 150 µW/cm2 power density. These effects were accompanied by concurrent decreases in mRNA and protein levels of osteoclast-specific genes, including RANK, NFATc1, and TRACP. Furthermore, radiofrequency exposure at power density of 150 µW/cm2 induced a significant decrease in cytoplasmic NF-κB protein levels while increasing its nuclear fraction, thereby counteracting the effects of RANKL-induced NF-κB activation. These data suggest that radiofrequency exerts inhibitory properties on RANKL-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity, subsequently indirectly suppressing the expression of downstream NF-κB target genes, such as NFATc1 and TRACP. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that radiofrequency radiation effectively inhibits osteoclast differentiation by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings have important implications for potential therapeutic interventions in osteoporosis.

ERRATUM: Radiofrequency (4g) Exposure Effects on Dentate Gyrus structure and Function in Wistar rats: Pre- vs. Postnatal Impact

ERRATUM: Radiofrequency (4g) Exposure Effects on Dentate Gyrus structure and Function in Wistar rats: Pre- vs. Postnatal Impact

Study of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects induced in human fibroblasts by exposure to pulsed and continuous 1.6 GHz radiofrequency.

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). 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. 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. 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.

Structural and molecular alterations in murine tissue due to far-field radiofrequency exposure

Public concern over exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields has prompted several studies to determine possible health outcomes. However, studies on low level far-field radiofrequency (RF) exposure remain inconclusive on whether it can alter biological systems. Our study's aim was to evaluate structural and molecular modifications such as apoptosis and gene expression in murine brain, liver and kidney tissues exposed to a far-field RF of 915 MHz at a whole-body specific absorption rate of 1.17 W/kg. Forty (40) Swiss male mice were equally and randomly divided into 2 groups: a control group and an RF-exposed group. Each were further equally subdivided (n=5 per subgroup) based on different time points: baseline or no exposure, 3-day exposure, 6-day-exposure and 9-day exposure subgroups. Biometric parameters such as body temperature, body weight, and organ weight were obtained. Tissue samples were collected and analyzed using light and electron microscopy, followed by qPCR assay for both the p53 and Hsp-70 genes. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA. There was evidence of both structural and molecular modification beginning Day 3 from continuous-wave far-field RF exposure. The study established multi-level alterations in the murine system due to far field RF exposure providing a glimpse of possible biological effects, and therefore, a need for further studies to translate such evidence in a larger biological perspective.

Estimates and measurements of radiofrequency exposures in smart-connected homes.

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.

Radiofrequency (4g) Exposure Effects on Dentate Gyrus structure and Function in Wistar rats: Pre- vs. Postnatal Impact

Radiofrequency (4g) Exposure Effects on Dentate Gyrus structure and Function in Wistar rats: Pre- vs. Postnatal Impact

The effects of radiofrequency exposure on adverse female reproductive outcomes: A systematic review of human observational studies with dose–response meta-analysis

BackgroundTo 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. MethodsWe 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. ResultsWe 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. DiscussionMost 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.

The effects of radiofrequency exposure on male fertility: A systematic review of human observational studies with dose–response meta-analysis

BackgroundThe 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. MethodsWe 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. ResultsWe 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. DiscussionThe 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)

The effects of radiofrequency exposure on cognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of human observational studies

BackgroundWe aimed to assess evidence of long-term effects of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on indicators of cognition, including domains of learning and memory, executive function, complex attention, language, perceptual motor ability and social cognition, and of an exposure–response relationship between RF-EMF and cognition. MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo and the EMF-Portal on September 30, 2022 without limiting by date or language of publication. We included cohort or case-control studies that evaluated the effects of RF exposure on cognitive function in one or more of the cognitive domains. Studies were rated for risk of bias using the OHAT tool and synthesised using fixed effects meta-analysis. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach and considered modification by OHAT for assessing evidence of exposures. ResultsWe included 5 studies that reported analyses of data from 4 cohorts with 4639 participants consisting of 2808 adults and 1831 children across three countries (Australia, Singapore and Switzerland) conducted between 2006 and 2017. The main source of RF-EMF exposure was mobile (cell) phone use measured as calls per week or minutes per day.For mobile phone use in children, two studies (615 participants) that compared an increase in mobile phone use to a decrease or no change were included in meta-analyses. Learning and memory. There was little effect on accuracy (mean difference, MD −0.03; 95% CI −0.07 to 0.02) or response time (MD −0.01; 95% CI −0.04 to 0.02) on the one-back memory task; and accuracy (MD −0.02; 95%CI −0.04 to 0.00) or response time (MD −0.01; 95%CI −0.04 to 0.03) on the one card learning task (low certainty evidence for all outcomes). Executive function. There was little to no effect on the Stroop test for the time ratio ((B-A)/A) response (MD 0.02; 95% CI −0.01 to 0.04, very low certainty) or the time ratio ((D-C)/C) response (MD 0.00; 95% CI −0.06 to 0.05, very low certainty), with both tests measuring susceptibility to interference effects. Complex attention. There was little to no effect on detection task accuracy (MD 0.02; 95% CI −0.04 to 0.08), or response time (MD 0.02;95% CI 0.01 to 0.03), and little to no effect on identification task accuracy (MD 0.00; 95% CI −0.04 to 0.05) or response time (MD 0.00;95% CI −0.01 to 0.02) (low certainty evidence for all outcomes). No other cognitive domains were investigated in children.A single study among elderly people provided very low certainty evidence that more frequent mobile phone use may have little to no effect on the odds of a decline in global cognitive function (odds ratio, OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.58, 649 participants) or a decline in executive function (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.37 to 3.05, 146 participants), and may lead to a small, probably unimportant, reduction in the odds of a decline in complex attention (OR 0.67;95%CI 0.27 to 1.68, 159 participants) and a decline in learning and memory (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.29 to 1.99, 159 participants). An exposure–response relationship was not identified for any of the cognitive outcomes. DiscussionThis systematic review and meta-analysis found only a few studies that provided very low to low certainty evidence of little to no association between RF-EMF exposure and learning and memory, executive function and complex attention. None of the studies among children reported on global cognitive function or other domains of cognition. Only one study reported a lack of an effect for all domains in elderly persons but this was of very low certainty evidence. Further studies are needed to address all types of populations, exposures and cognitive outcomes, particularly studies investigating environmental and occupational exposure in adults. Future studies also need to address uncertainties in the assessment of exposure and standardise testing of specific domains of cognitive function to enable synthesis across studies and increase the certainty of the evidence. OtherThis review was partially funded by the WHO radioprotection programme and prospectively registered on PROSPERO CRD42021257548.

Evaluation of twin fetal exposure to radiofrequency field during magnetic resonance imaging.

Fetal development is essential to the human lifespan. As more and more multifetal gestations have been reported recently, clinical diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which introduced radiofrequency (RF) exposure, raised public concerns. The present study developed two whole-body pregnant models of 31 and 32 gestational weeks (GWs) with twin fetuses and explored RF exposure by 1.5 and 3.0T MRI. Differences in the relative position of the fetus and changes in fetal weight can cause differences in fetal peak local specific absorption rate averaged over 10g tissue (pSAR10g). Variation of pSAR10g due to different fetal positions can be ~35%. Numerically, twin and singleton fetal pSAR10g results were not significantly different, however twin results exceeded the limit in some cases (e.g. fetuses of 31 GW at 1.5T), which indicated the necessity for further research employing anatomically correct twin-fetal models coming from various GWs and particular sequence to be applied.

Impact of Radiofrequency Exposure From Mobile Phones on the Risk of Developing Brain Tumors in Korean and Japanese Adolescents: A MOBI-Kids Case-control Study.

This study aimed to examine the association between risk of brain tumors and radiofrequency (RF) exposure from mobile phones among young people in Korea and Japan. This case-control study of brain tumors in young people was conducted in Korea and Japan under the framework of the international MOBI-Kids study. We included 118 patients diagnosed with brain tumors between 2011 and 2015 and 236 matched appendicitis controls aged 10-24 years. Information on mobile phone use was collected through face-to-face interviews. A detailed RF exposure algorithm, based on the MOBI-Kids algorithm and modified to account for the specificities of Japanese and Korean phones and networks, was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for total cumulative specific energy using conditional logistic regression. The adjusted ORs in the highest tertile of cumulative call time at 1 year before the reference date were 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-3.60) for all brain tumors and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.16-3.03) for gliomas, with no indication of a trend with exposure. The ORs for glioma specifically, were below 1 in the lowest exposure category. This study provided no evidence of a causal association between mobile phone use and risk of brain tumors as a whole or of glioma specifically. Further research will be required to evaluate the impact of newer technologies of communication in the future.

Effects of radiofrequency field from 5G communication on fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in mice

With the rapid development of 5G networks, the influence of the radiofrequency field (RF) generated from 5G communication equipment on human health is drawing increasing attention in public. The study aimed at assessing the effects of long-term exposure to 4.9 GHz (one of the working frequencies of 5G communication) RF field on fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in adult male C57BL/6 mice. The animals were divided into Sham group and radiofrequency group (RF group). For RF group, the mice were whole body exposed to 4.9 GHz RF field for three weeks, 1 h/d, at average power density (PD) of 50 W/m2. After RF exposure, the mice fecal samples were collected to detect gut microorganisms and metabolites by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC–MS method, respectively. The results showed that intestinal microbial compositions were altered in RF group, as evidenced by reduced microbial diversity and changed microbial community distribution. Metabolomics profiling identified 258 significantly differentially abundant metabolites in RF group, 57 of which can be classified to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Besides, functional correlation analysis showed that changes in gut microbiota genera were significantly correlated with changes in fecal metabolites. In summary, the results suggested that altered gut microbiota and metabolic profile are associated with 4.9 GHz radiofrequency exposure.

Effects of 700 and 3500 MHz 5G radiofrequency exposure on developing zebrafish embryos

Telecommunications industries are rapidly deploying the fifth generation (5G) spectrum and there is public concern about the safety and health impacts of this type of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR), in part because of the lack of comparable scientific evidence. In this study we have used a validated commercially available setting producing a uniform field to expose zebrafish embryos (ZFe) to unmodulated 700 and 3500 MHz frequencies. We have combined a battery of toxicity, developmental and behavioral assays to further explore potential RFR effects. Our neurobehavioral profiles include a tail coiling assay, a light/dark activity assay, two thigmotaxis anxiety assays (auditory and visual stimuli), and a startle response - habituation assay in response to auditory stimuli. ZFe were exposed for 1 and 4 h during the blastula period of development and endpoints evaluated up to 120 hours post fertilization (hpf). Our results show no effects on mortality, hatching or body length. However, we have demonstrated specific organ morphological effects, and behavioral effects in activity, anxiety-like behavior, and habituation that lasted in larvae exposed during the early embryonic period. A decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity was also observed and could explain some of the observed behavioral alterations. Interestingly, effects were more pronounced in ZFe exposed to the 700 MHz frequency, and especially for the 4 h exposure period. In addition, we have demonstrated that our exposure setup is robust, flexible with regard to frequency and power testing, and highly comparable. Future work will include exposure of ZFe to 5G modulated signals for different time periods to better understand the potential health effects of novel 5G RFR.

Research of melasma treatment effectiveness by combined administration of autologous plasma, dermal optical thermolysis and radiofrequency exposure

Research of melasma treatment effectiveness by combined administration of autologous plasma, dermal optical thermolysis and radiofrequency exposure

Optimizing Radiofrequency Exposure Parameters for One-Pass Drying of High-Moisture Paddy Rice

Highlights The utilization of standardized Radiofrequency (RF) exposure parameters ensures safety and process consistency. Equations were used to estimate Power Density (S), Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and Electric Field Intensity (E). One-pass RF drying effectively lowered paddy rice (Cultivar [cv.] XL-753) initial Moisture Content (MC; 20.4% w.b.) to safe levels (=13.5% w.b.) with SARAdjusted of 1.87 × 106 J, E of 46.82 V/m, and S of 300,000 W/m² (6,000 W/kg). Higher SARAdjusted values impacted paddy rice surface lipid content and milling yields, while minor changes in color and viscosity showed inconsistent and subtle practical effects. Abstract. Radiofrequency (RF) heating utilizes high-frequency electromagnetic waves to induce heat within materials via molecular friction. This method offers rapid, even heating, deep penetration, and energy efficiency. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of research on RF exposure parameters concerning food processing. Investigating these parameters is crucial for RF process optimization, setting safety guidelines, and guaranteeing product quality. This research clarifies RF exposure parameters through the one-pass drying of high moisture content (MC) long-grain paddy rice (cultivar [cv.] XL-753) at an initial MC of 20.4% wet basis (w.b.) to a final of MC of = 13.5% w.b. (safe MC for storage). The specific objectives of this research were to: 1. Advocate the utilization of standardized RF exposure parameters (Specific Absorption Rate, SAR; Electric Field Intensity, E; and Power Density, S) of food and agricultural products, aiming to simplify RF processing, fostering consistency and safety in operations. 2. Estimate the RF exposure parameters associated with the one-pass RF drying process. 3. Determine the RF exposure parameters’ influence on rice physicochemical attributes of Milled Rice Yield (MRY), Head Rice Yield (HRY), Color Parameters (L* a* b*), Surface Lipid Content (SLC), and Pasting Properties. Using a pilot-scale parallel-plate RF heating system (6 kW, 27.12 MHz) with a 105 mm product-to-emitter gap, RF exposure parameters were determined: E = 46.82 V/m; EEff = 33.11 V/m; S = 300,000 W/m²; SAR = 2,224.95 W/kg. Rice samples underwent RF exposure durations of 360, 600, and 840 s, resulting in SARAdjusted levels of 0.80 × 106, 1.33 × 106, and 1.87 × 106 J, respectively. Half of the RF-processed paddy rice underwent tempering, which involved immediately transferring paddy rice after RF treatments into sealed glass jars and then into an incubator set to a constant temperature of 60°C for a duration of 4 h. RF processed samples at the highest SARAdjusted tested (1.87 × 106 J) followed by tempering resulted in MC reductions of 6.7% pt. w.b., final MC of 14.0% w.b., MRY, HRY, and SLC of 70.80%, 47.38%, and 0.47%, respectively. Non-tempered samples at the same SARAdjusted level had MC reductions of 7.34% pt. w.b., final MC of 13.1% w.b., MRY, HRY, and SLC of 60.91%, 4.53%, and 0.43%. Tempering and SARAdjusted values slightly affected rice physicochemical characteristics of color and viscosity. However, the differences were minor and inconsistent. To ensure optimal quality in large-scale RF drying of rice, it is crucial to avoid SARAdjusted levels exceeding 1.33 × 106 J. Exceeding this threshold has been shown to cause overheating, adversely impacting the grain’s quality. Moreover, implementing a tempering process post-drying is also essential in mitigating these detrimental effects. Keywords: Color, Electric field intensity (E), Lipids, Milling yields, Power density (S), Radio-frequency (RF), Rice drying, Specific absorption rate (SAR), Viscosity.

Assessment of Output Radiation Density of Cell Phone for Epidemiological Studies: A Pilot Study in Navi Mumbai

In this research, the cell phone radiation output density of 167 different cell phone users has been systematically measured across various scenarios: (i) when no multimedia services were activated, (ii) when all multimedia services were activated (such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, Skype, etc.), (iii) during calls without multimedia services, and (iv) during calls with all multimedia services activated. Through rigorous statistical analysis, the means for each of these four categories were computed. A notable finding is that the radiation output density from cell phones is at its highest during calls with all multimedia services activated (means 11.87 mW/m2 for 167 cell phones), whereas during calls with no multimedia services active, mean values are found 7.743 mW/m2. To establish a correlation between the quality of the signal received from the cell phone tower and the radiated power from the cell phone during calls, the output radiation from cell phones was also assessed using the Trifield Electromagnetic field (EMF) meter model (TF2) at different signal quality levels emitted by the towers. These signal quality levels were quantified by measuring Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), and Received Signal Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (RSSINR). It was observed that the cell phone's radiated power was at its lowest (means 9.428 mW/m2 for 41 cell phones) when the received signal quality was excellent (RSRP: –70.84 dBm; RSRQ: –12.06 Db; RSSINR: 12.6 dB). Conversely, in areas with the worst received signal quality (RSRP: –82.86 dBm; RSRQ: –17.034 dB; RSSINR: 8.1774 dB), the output radiated power density from cell phones during calls (all multimedia services activated) was recorded at its highest (means 18.336 mW/m2 for 56 cell phones). Furthermore, the study revealed an inverse correlation between the radiated output power density of cell phones (167) and the quality of the received signal (RSRPr: –0.18456; RSRQr: –0.35026; RSSINRr: –0.6448). This implies that the cell phone's radiated power density is directly influenced by the quality of the received signal from cell phone tower (specifically, its electromagnetic field strength) and the activation of various multimedia services. These findings contribute to improving the indicators of radiofrequency (RF) exposure for use in epidemiological studies. The results highlight that output power density of cell phone increases as the signal level from the cell phone tower decreases. Thus, we can affirm that a low-quality cell phone tower signal during calls leads to increased output radiation of cell phone, consequently resulting in a higher incidence of epidemiological problems.