Epidemiological and laboratory studies on the cancer risk from electromagnetic fields: an overview

Abstract

Electricity has played a significant role in modern developments and has become a part of our daily life. But electricity is invariably associated with electric and/or magnetic fields. Consequently, we are surrounded by electromagnetic fields (EMFs). In homes and workplaces we run our gadgets by electricity at power-line frequencies (50 Hz: low frequency). Whereas, wireless communications, including cellular phones, are operated at microwaves and shortwaves (high frequency). The question arises: is excessive exposure to EMFs harmful, more specifically carcinogenic? To answer this question a large number of epidemiological surveys and laboratory studies have been carried out largely during the 1980s and 1990s. The results are controversial and inconclusive. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the possible detrimental effects of time-dependent EMFs, including some experimental work carried out in the authors' laboratory. The emphasis is focused on the rise of cancer in humans as a consequence of exposure to EMFs.