This review argues that EMF exposure is associated in the literature with several adverse central nervous system outcomes, including blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter changes, cognitive effects, and neurodevelopmental impacts. It reports that evidence on EMFs and brain tumors is conflicting, while noting WHO’s classification of radiofrequency EMFs as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The authors highlight prenatal and childhood periods as potentially more vulnerable and call for more standardized long-term and mechanistic research to guide public health policy.

This occupational study compared oxidative stress biomarkers across four groups: control, noise-only, ELF-EMF-only, and combined noise plus ELF-EMF exposure in power plant workers. The combined exposure group showed higher lipid peroxidation (MDA) and lower antioxidant-related measures (GSH and TAC) versus controls, while SOD activity was reduced in the noise-only and combined groups. The authors interpret these findings as evidence linking concurrent noise and ELF-EMF exposure with increased oxidative stress and call for further research and occupational safety guidance.

This animal study tested whether short-term ELF-EMF exposure alters respiratory physiology in rats. Twenty Wistar albino rats were assigned to control or EMF exposure (50 Hz, 0.3 mT for 2 minutes) with respiratory parameters measured before, during, and after exposure. The study reports changes during exposure (lower respiratory rate and higher cycle duration, inspiration time, and tidal volume) but no differences after exposure, and it frames the findings as relevant to EMF safety and potential health risks.

This in vitro study exposed pig conceptuses (days 15–16 of pregnancy) to 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 2 hours and assessed transcriptomic and DNA methylation changes. The authors report altered expression of 21 protein-coding transcripts and an approximately 16-fold increase in genomic DNA methylation, with promoter methylation changes in several named genes. They conclude ELF-EMF interacts with gene expression and DNA methylation processes during early development and call for further safety research.