A review of effects of electromagnetic fields on ageing and ageing dependent bioeffects of

PAPER manual The Science of the total environment 2025 Review Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178491 PMID: 39818160 Evidence Lab

Abstract

A review of effects of electromagnetic fields on ageing and ageing dependent bioeffects of electromagnetic fields Wei X, Huang Y, Sun C. A review of effects of electromagnetic fields on ageing and ageing dependent bioeffects of electromagnetic fields. Sci Total Environ. 2025 Jan 15;963:178491. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178491. Abstract Thanks to the progress of science and technology, human life expectancy has dramatically increased in the past few decades, but accompanied by rapid ageing of population, resulting in increased burden on society. At the same time, the living environment, especially the electromagnetic environment, has also greatly changed due to science and technology advances. The effect of artificial electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted from power lines, mobile phones, wireless equipment, and other devices on ageing and ageing-related diseases are receiving increasing attention. However, the information on the relationship between EMFs and ageing and ageing related susceptibility to EMFs is fragmentary, a review is needed. Only few studies directly investigate the effect of EMFs on ageing, and we reviewed the impact of EMFs on lifespan and cellular senescence to pry whether EMFs have an effect on ageing, and reviewed the age-dependent bioeffects and health impacts of EMFs to see whether ageing would affect biological susceptibility to EMFs. The results indicated that EMFs may have an effect on longevity and cellular senescence, but the results were inconsistent which may depend on EMF types (frequency, intensity, wave shape, etc.), species, and cell lines. Ageing has an impact on the biological or health effects of EMFs; however, the results differ depending on the EMF type and the endpoint or health outcome. Age- dependent changes in free radical metabolism, ion homeostasis, gene expression, enzyme activity, and tissue biophysical properties may be the reason; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Highlights • Electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure has an effect on lifespan, but the effect may vary with type of EMF and animal model. • Extremely-low-frequency EMFs exposure can affect cellular senescence in a wave shape- and/or magnetic density-dependent manner. • Radio-frequency EMFs promotes cellular senescence in a frequency- and intensity-dependent manner. • The influence of EMFs on cellular, animal, and human health exhibits a degree of age- dependency. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusion With the intensification of ageing and the variety of EMFs in the environment continues to increase, the effects of EMFs on ageing and ageing-dependent effects of EMFs will get constant attention. Although current research is insufficient to answer this question, some important information can be gleaned. The ageing state of the cell or body plays a role in determining the biological or health effects of EMF exposure, but the exact effect depends on the specific conditions, and further investigation of the underlying mechanism is needed. 6.1. The effect of EMFs on ageing Ageing is a complex and expanding concept (López-Otín et al., 2023); therefore, understanding the effects of EMFs on ageing is not to be done in a short time, but we can gain insights into this mystery from the study of lifespan and cellular senescence. SMFs have an effect on delaying cellular senescence (Fig. 3) and extending the lifespan of C. elegans and mice (Fig. 2); however, SMFs at high flux intensity had negative effects on C. elegans (Fig. 2). RMFs have both beneficial effects on anti-cellular senescence and prolong the lifespan of C. elegans (Fig. 2, Fig. 3). The impact of ELF-EMFs on lifespan and cellular senescence had been found to be inconsistent, potentially dependent on wave shape and/or magnetic flux density (Fig. 2, Fig. 3). Exposure to RF-EMFs in the wireless communication bands (1800 MHz–2480 MHz) appears to have no significant impact on lifespan (Fig. 2). However, these RF-EMFs may influence cellular senescence in a frequency- and intensity-dependent manner (Fig. 3). 6.2. Ageing-dependent effect of EMFs With the global ageing of the population, it is very meaningful to understand the age-dependent health effects of EMFs. Although the current research is still in the preliminary stage, the biological effects of SMFs, ELF-EMFs, and RF-EMFs have been reported to be age dependent (Fig. 4). SMFs have an age- dependent effect on cell apoptosis, calcium signalling and tissue hydration. ELF-EMFs have an age- dependent effect on human-derived primary cells and brain oxidative stress in animals, and epidemiological studies have shown that the relationship between ELF-EMFs and the risk of neurodegenerative disease is greater in older individuals and that the risk of carcinogenesis is greater in young individuals. RF-EMFs have an age-dependent effect on immune cells, tissue development, and brain activity but do not interfere with sleep. Importantly, RF-EMFs are more strongly related to the risk of carcinogenesis in younger age groups. 6.3. Possible mechanisms for the age-dependent effect of EMFs Cellular senescence is the basis of ageing, so the age-dependent effect may be fundamentally due to cellular senescence (van Deursen, 2014). A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the interactions between EMFs and cells may lead to new findings. Free radical metabolism and calcium signalling have mostly been studied for their ability to mediate the bioeffects of EMFs; thus, age-related functional changes in these two aspects might be the cause of age-dependent effects (Falone et al., 2008; Selakovic et al., 2013). Existing studies have shown that other possible mechanisms, such as age-dependent Na+/K+ pump dysfunction (Deghoyan et al., 2014) and decreased expression levels of high-affinity ouabain receptors (Narinyan et al., 2013), play important roles in the age- dependent effect of SMFs on tissue hydration. The effect of EMFs is also dependent on the biophysical properties of tissues or cells, and ageing-related differences in the biophysical properties that result in different responses to EMFs may also be the cause of age-dependent effects.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

mixed

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

power lines, mobile phones, wireless equipment, and other devices

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review reports that few studies directly investigate EMF effects on ageing; evidence on lifespan/longevity and cellular senescence is inconsistent and may depend on EMF type (e.g., frequency, intensity, wave shape), species, and cell lines. It also concludes that biological/health effects of EMFs can be age-dependent, with reported differences by EMF type and endpoint; proposed reasons include age-related changes in free radical metabolism, ion homeostasis, gene expression, enzyme activity, and tissue biophysical properties, but mechanisms are not fully elucidated.

Outcomes measured

ageing
lifespan/longevity
cellular senescence
age-dependent bioeffects/health impacts
apoptosis
calcium signalling
tissue hydration
oxidative stress
neurodegenerative disease risk
carcinogenesis/cancer risk
immune cell effects
tissue development
brain activity
sleep

Limitations

Information on EMFs and ageing/age-related susceptibility is described as fragmentary
Only few studies directly investigate the effect of EMFs on ageing
Results across studies are inconsistent and appear dependent on exposure parameters and model/endpoint
Underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated
Authors state current research is insufficient to answer the question

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.2)
Mentions power lines and broad EMF sources; no specific occupational cohort described.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "power lines, mobile phones, wireless equipment, and other devices",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "ageing",
        "lifespan/longevity",
        "cellular senescence",
        "age-dependent bioeffects/health impacts",
        "apoptosis",
        "calcium signalling",
        "tissue hydration",
        "oxidative stress",
        "neurodegenerative disease risk",
        "carcinogenesis/cancer risk",
        "immune cell effects",
        "tissue development",
        "brain activity",
        "sleep"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This review reports that few studies directly investigate EMF effects on ageing; evidence on lifespan/longevity and cellular senescence is inconsistent and may depend on EMF type (e.g., frequency, intensity, wave shape), species, and cell lines. It also concludes that biological/health effects of EMFs can be age-dependent, with reported differences by EMF type and endpoint; proposed reasons include age-related changes in free radical metabolism, ion homeostasis, gene expression, enzyme activity, and tissue biophysical properties, but mechanisms are not fully elucidated.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Information on EMFs and ageing/age-related susceptibility is described as fragmentary",
        "Only few studies directly investigate the effect of EMFs on ageing",
        "Results across studies are inconsistent and appear dependent on exposure parameters and model/endpoint",
        "Underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated",
        "Authors state current research is insufficient to answer the question"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "EMF",
        "ageing",
        "aging",
        "lifespan",
        "longevity",
        "cellular senescence",
        "age-dependent effects",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "RF-EMF",
        "static magnetic fields",
        "SMF",
        "rotating magnetic fields",
        "RMF",
        "oxidative stress",
        "carcinogenesis",
        "neurodegenerative disease"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Mentions power lines and broad EMF sources; no specific occupational cohort described."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Comments

No comments yet.