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Update by Dr. Henry Lai: Majority of Studies Find Cell Phone and Wireless Radiation Effects

Jan 25, 2024

EMF Research Summary: Effects & Risks Unveiled - Update by Dr Henry Lai
Dr. Henry Lai, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington, Editor Emeritus of the journal, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, and an emeritus member of the International Commission on the Biological Effects of EMF, has compiled summaries of the research on the biological effects of exposure to radio frequency (RFR) and extremely low frequency (ELF) and static electromagnetic fields (EMF). The new update covers the period from 1990 to January 2024.
Dr. Lai reports that the preponderance of the research has found that exposure to RFR or ELF EMF produces oxidative effects or free radicals and damages DNA. Moreover the preponderance of studies that examined genetic, neurological and reproductive outcomes has found significant effects. 79% of more than 1,500 studies of RFR reported significant effects. 87% of more than 900 studies of ELF and static fields reported significant effects.

The collection contains about 2,500 studies. The abstracts for these studies can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization classified radio frequency radiation “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B). The IARC had planned to review RFR again by 2024 because most peer-reviewed studies published in the past decade found significant evidence that RFR causes genotoxicity; however this review has been postponed. IARC is likely re-classify RFR to either “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A) or “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1) if IARC convenes EMF experts who have no conflicts of interest.

Cell phones and other wireless devices also produce static and extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields. ELF was classified by the IARC as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) a decade before RFR received this classification.

Summary of Results (January 2024)

Radio frequency radiation (RFR)

  • 89% (n=316) of 354 RFR oxidative effects (or free radical) studies published since 1997 reported significant effects including 95% (n=82) of 86 studies with a SAR (specific absorption rate) ≤ 0.40 watts per kilogram (which is ten times less than the 4.0 W/kg threshold of harm that the FCC and the ICNIRP use to base their RFR exposure limits).70% (n=328) of 466 RFR genetic effects studies published since 1990 reported significant effects including 79% (n=113) of 144 studies of gene expression.
  • 77% (n=333) of 435 RFR neurological studies published since 2007 reported significant effects.
  • 83% (n=280) of 335 RFR reproduction and development studies published since 1990 reported significant effects. Among the studies that reported significant effects, 56 studies used an exposure with a SAR ≤ 0.40 W/kg and 37 studies had a SAR ≤  0.08 W/kg.


Extremely low frequency (ELF) and static electromagnetic fields

  • 91% (n=286) of 316 ELF/static EMF oxidative effects (or free radical) studies published since 1990 reported significant effects.
  • 84% (n=288) of 344 ELF/static EMF genetic effects studies published since 1990 reported significant effects including 95% (n=168) of 177 studies of gene expression.91% (n=315) of 345 ELF/static EMF neurological studies published since 2007 reported significant effects.
  • 75% (n=65) of 87 ELF/static EMF reproduction and development studies published since 1990 reported significant effects.

Links to download each set of abstracts (RFR = radio frequency electromagnetic fields  ELF = extremely low frequency or static electromagnetic fields) 

This content is from Dr. Joel Moskowitz . Please see his regular updates at https://www.saferemr.com/ 

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