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11 postsExposure to 5G-NR electromagnetic fields affects larval development of Aedes aegypti mosquito
A PubMed-listed study examined whether exposure to 5G New Radio (5G-NR) radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) at 3.6 GHz affects larval development in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Using a custom reverberation-chamber exposure setup and numerical simulations to estimate dose, the authors report slower development at a lower exposure level (46.2 V/m), particularly in nutritionally weakened larvae. At a higher exposure level (182.6 V/m), the study reports dielectric heating that altered development timing and adult size.
Towards a Planetary Health Impact Assessment Framework: Exploring Expert Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence for a RF-EMF Exposure Case-Study
This peer-reviewed article proposes a Planetary Health Impact Assessment (PHIA) framework to evaluate not only direct health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) but also potential indirect impacts on human health mediated through ecosystem disruption. Using mobile telecommunication RF-EMF as a case study, the authors and 12 experts built a knowledge graph of hypothesized pathways and compared it with an AI/NLP tool that extracts literature into knowledge graphs. The paper reports that AI can process large volumes quickly but currently needs substantial expert validation due to limitations in precision and context sensitivity, and it highlights potential gaps in the literature on indirect/ecological pathways.
3.5GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on metabolic disorders in Drosophila melanogaster
This animal study used metabolomics to assess metabolic changes in male Drosophila melanogaster exposed to 3.5 GHz RF-EMF at 0.1, 1, and 10 W/m². It reports disruptions in four metabolic pathways and 34 differential metabolites, with significant decreases in several metabolites including GABA, glucose-6-phosphate, and AMP. The authors interpret the findings as suggesting RF-EMF-related metabolic disturbance, while noting no clear dose-dependent pattern.
Bacterial Adaptation to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Based on Experiences from Ionizing Radiation
This 2025 review summarizes historical and modern literature on how bacteria may adapt to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from common sources such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi. It argues that RF-EMF exposure can influence bacterial survival mechanisms and could potentially compromise therapeutic interventions by promoting increased resistance. The authors frame these possibilities as a public health concern and call for continued research and precaution.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses for the WHO assessment of health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, an introduction
This editorial introduces a special issue supporting the WHO assessment of health effects from RF-EMF exposure, based on nine protocols and twelve systematic reviews developed over four years by more than 80 experts. It summarizes that human evidence for major cancers was moderate-certainty for no or only small effects, with lower certainty for some cancer sites, while animal evidence reported higher-certainty effects for several cancer types and adverse effects on male fertility. For cognition, symptoms, and oxidative stress, certainty was generally lower and findings more variable, and the editors note ongoing methodological challenges and the possibility of unidentified mechanisms.
Impact of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Cardiac Activity at Rest: A Systematic Review of Healthy Human Studies
This systematic review evaluated evidence on RF-EMF exposure and cardiac activity (heart rate and heart rate variability) in healthy humans at rest. Across 28 studies spanning 100 to 110,000 MHz and exposures from minutes to a week, most studies reported no significant effects on resting heart rate, and HRV findings were largely null under calm conditions. Some position-dependent HRV changes were reported, and the authors note possible effects during physiological challenges, but conclude evidence is insufficient for firm conclusions beyond resting healthy populations.
Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields reduce bumble bee visitation to flowers
This blinded, two-year study examined whether RF-EMF exposure at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz affects pollinator visitation to Salvia and Lavandula. The authors report no significant effect on honey bee visitation rates. They report a significant reduction in bumble bee visits per observation period under RF-EMF exposure, which they frame as a potential risk warranting further long-term research.
Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and IARC carcinogen assessment: Risk of Bias preliminary literature assessment for 10 key characteristics of human carcinogens
This review examined experimental literature on whether RF-EMF exposures within ICNIRP (2020) limits affect IARC key characteristics of human carcinogens. It identified 159 articles and found that 38% of in vitro/in vivo measurements reported statistically significant effects, but higher study quality was associated with fewer reported effects and there was no consistent exposure-response pattern. The authors state that study diversity and generally poor quality prevent high-confidence conclusions for most key characteristics, while recommending replication of the few higher-quality positive findings under stringent standards.
A novel approach for assessments of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure in buildings near telecommunication infrastructure
This paper proposes a new methodology to better assess indoor RF-EMF exposure in buildings near telecommunication base station antennas by refining measurement-point selection. Implemented in four multi-storey buildings in Natal, Brazil, indoor electric field peaks and averages were reported to be substantially higher than ground-level measurements. Although the highest indoor levels remained below ICNIRP recommended limits, the authors argue current regulatory evaluation methods may underestimate indoor exposure in certain building locations.
In-Situ Measurements of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Measurements Around 5G Macro Base Stations in the UK
This exposure assessment performed RF spot measurements in line-of-sight to 56 active 5G macro base stations across 30 publicly accessible UK locations. Power density was measured across 420 MHz–6 GHz under multiple scenarios (background, streaming, downlink speed test, and extrapolated SS-RSRP decoding). Reported total RF and 5G-specific levels were within 1998 ICNIRP public reference levels, with 4G downlink contributing most of the measured exposure.
Potential Impacts of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on the Central Nervous System, Brain Neurotransmitter Dynamics and Reproductive System
This review discusses potential impacts of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from technologies such as Wi‑Fi and mobile phones on the central nervous system, neurotransmitter dynamics, and reproductive health. It describes proposed mechanisms including oxidative stress, thermal effects, altered neurotransmitter activity, ion channel changes, and neuronal apoptosis, while acknowledging conflicting evidence. The authors note that Wi‑Fi RF exposure has not been confirmed to exceed safety guidelines but argue that updated standards and long-term studies are needed, particularly for children/adolescents and in the context of expanding technologies such as 5G.