EMF Health Impacts
These are some of the warnings that have been documented with varying degrees of certainty regarding the ill effects of EMF radiation on health. These concern relatively low-level exposures and do not include outright cases of radiation sickness caused by exposure to high intensity sources, nor the effects of high energy ionizing radiation (from x-rays or nuclear medicine) which has been well documented and the exposure to which you will generally know.
Understand that a definitive decision on these health effects is extremely difficult, owing to the ethics involved and the difficulty in obtaining volunteers for controlled studies willing to be exposed to various levels of radiation. Most of what we have learned comes from epidemiological studies, or special circumstances that arose by happenstance. Otherwise, it is probable that not enough time has yet elapsed for the necessary insights to have been realized.
If you doubt that electromagnetic fields can influence your body, consider that they are also used as therapies for bone healing, osteoarthritis, cartilage regeneration, and pain reduction.
Strong Evidence for Health Issues
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radio frequency radiation as a possible carcinogen, particularly for gliomas and acoustic neuromas.
- EMFs have been shown to affect both embryonic and adult stem cells, leading to poor healing, cancers, and other effects.
- Some studies of cell phone users are reporting increased cancerous and other tumors in the head, particularly among some of the connective tissues surrounding nerve components that run from the inner ear to the brain.
- Sperm quality
- Effects on neurotransmitters and neuroprotection
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia
- Depression and depressive symptoms
- Blood-brain-barrier effects
- Multiple Sclerosis and other demylelination disorders
- Changes in memory
Weaker Evidence (includes symptoms associated with a condition known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity)
- Cognition
- Psychological addiction
- Behavioral problems
- Headache
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Dysesthesia (a painful, often itchy sensation)
- Lack of concentration
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Restlessness and anxiety
- Nausea
- Skin burning and tingling
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Click on the image to the right to see a summary of how EMF radiation affects general body cells. (Image courtesy of High Tech Health International)
See also:
- Plants won't grow near Wi-Fi routers, experiment finds
- Cell Tower Radiation Increased Oxidative Stress in Honeybees After One Year
- Protecting Children
References:
- World Health Organization, radio frequency radiation and health – a hard nut to crack
- New Studies Link Cell Phone Radiation with Cancer
- Should You Be Worried About EMF Exposure?
- WHO study confirms damage to sperm and fertility caused by cellular radiation (The paper is in German, but your browser may translate it.)
- Can EMF Cause Anxiety: What the Science Says [2024 Update]
- Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Neurotransmitters in the Brain
- How EMF Exposure May Cause Depression, Anxiety & Other Mental Health Issues
- A Prospective Cohort Study of Adolescents’ Memory Performance and Individual Brain Dose of Microwave Radiation from Wireless Communication
- EMF & Brain Health: How EMF Exposure Affects Your Brain’s Functioning
- Excessive Smartphone Use Is Associated With Health Problems in Adolescents and Young Adults – This study does not differentiate between EMF effects and outcomes based on behavioral addictions, so is listed here only for informational purposes.