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Cited by 350Electromagnetic Fields and Biological EffectsCarcinogens and Genotoxicity AssessmentHealth, Environment, Cognitive Aging

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Epidemiology of Health Effects of Radiofrequency Exposure

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ICNIRP (International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) Standing Committee on Epidemiology:, Ahlbom, Anders, Green, Adele, Kheifets, Leeka, Savitz, David, Swerdlow, Anthony·2004·Environmental Health Perspectives
DOI 10.1289/ehp.7306PMC PMC1253668
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Abstract

We have undertaken a comprehensive review of epidemiologic studies about the effects of radiofrequency fields (RFs) on human health in order to summarize the current state of knowledge, explain the methodologic issues that are involved, and aid in the planning of future studies. There have been a large number of occupational studies over several decades, particularly on cancer, cardiovascular disease, adverse reproductive outcome, and cataract, in relation to RF exposure. More recently, there have been studies of residential exposure, mainly from radio and television transmitters, and especially focusing on leukemia. There have also been studies of mobile telephone users, particularly on brain tumors and less often on other cancers and on symptoms. Results of these studies to date give no consistent or convincing evidence of a causal relation between RF exposure and any adverse health effect. On the other hand, the studies have too many deficiencies to rule out an association. A key concern across all studies is the quality of assessment of RF exposure. Despite the ubiquity of new technologies using RFs, little is known about population exposure from RF sources and even less about the relative importance of different sources. Other cautions are that mobile phone studies to date have been able to address only relatively short lag periods, that almost no data are available on the consequences of childhood exposure, and that published data largely concentrate on a small number of outcomes, especially brain tumor and leukemia.

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Metadata

Authors
ICNIRP (International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) Standing Committee on Epidemiology:, Ahlbom, A., Green, A., Kheifets, L., Savitz, D., & Swerdlow, A.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
  • 3Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • Institute of Cancer Research (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Health Perspectives
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published
2004-09-23
Volume
112
Issue
17
Pages
1741-1754
ISSN
  • 0091-6765 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-9924
DOI
10.1289/ehp.7306
PMC
PMC1253668
OpenAlex
W2050613887
Cited by
350
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 15
FWCI
2.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental Health Perspectives (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
Keywords
radiofrequency exposure, health effects, occupational exposure, residential exposure, brain tumors, leukemia, cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, reproductive outcomes, cataract, exposure assessment, children's exposure, epidemiological study design
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain Neoplasms, Child, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Health, Humans, Leukemia, Radio Waves, Research Design, Epidemiologic Studies, Occupational Exposure, Risk Assessment, Cell Phone

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