This RF Safe commentary argues that U.S. RF exposure protections remain anchored to “thermal-only” assumptions from the 1990s despite what it describes as newer WHO-commissioned systematic reviews elevating certain animal cancer endpoints and a male fertility endpoint to “high certainty.” It contrasts these claims with a WHO-commissioned review of human observational studies that reportedly found mobile-phone RF exposure is likely not associated with increased risk of several head/brain tumors, arguing that this is often overgeneralized in public messaging. The piece calls for “prudent avoidance,” updates to FCC rules, and highlights legal and policy constraints such as federal preemption under the Telecommunications Act and a 2021 D.C. Circuit decision criticizing the FCC’s rationale for retaining its RF limits without adequate explanation.

This retrospective observational study analyzed Murmuras app data from 1074 participants in 2022 to examine demographic differences in smartphone use and nocturnal smartphone inactivity duration (a proxy for sleep-related behavior). Nighttime smartphone use increased, especially for social media and entertainment, and usage patterns varied by gender, age, education, and employment status. Most demographic groups showed no significant correlation between usage duration and nocturnal inactivity, although some subgroups showed correlations in either direction. The authors frame excessive nighttime smartphone use as potentially adverse for sleep and link this behavioral exposure to electromagnetic fields with sleep health risks.

This cross-sectional observational study assessed sperm motility after one hour of in vitro exposure of semen samples to EMFs from different laboratory sources in an IVF setting. It reports a statistically significant reduction in progressive sperm motility after exposure to mobile phones and Wi-Fi repeaters, while other EMF-emitting equipment showed no significant effect. The authors interpret the findings as indicating a potential negative impact of specific RF sources and call for further research, alongside practical mitigation suggestions in IVF laboratories.

This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis synthesizes human observational studies on radiofrequency EMF exposure and male fertility outcomes. It reports evidence of an association between RF exposure and poorer sperm parameters, including reduced quality, motility, and viability. The authors frame the findings as consistent with potential reproductive health risks and call for continued risk assessment and guideline development.