Effects of intermediate frequency electromagnetic fields: a review of animal studies

2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 785

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of intermediate frequency electromagnetic fields: a review of animal studies Lee Hae-June, Jin Hee, Ahn Young Hwan, Kim Nam, Pack Jeong Ki, Choi Hyung-Do, Lee Yun-Sil. Effects of intermediate frequency electromagnetic fields: a review of animal studies. International Journal of Radiation Biology. 2022. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2094016 Abstract Many novel devices such as induction cookers or wireless power transfer produce electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the intermediate frequency (IF) range (300 Hz to 10 MHz) and it is very meaningful for summarizing the bioeffects of IF-EMF research, particularly animal studies. This review takes into account experimental studies that used murine models to study the health effects of exposure to IF-EMF. The analyses included here use data available in the literature published from January 1988 to August 2021 including the animal studies about general adverse effects, tumorigenic effects, and effects on developmental stages. The studies that linked IF- EMF exposure during pregnancy or neonatal stage to behavioral and cognition changes were included. Additionally, this review also covers the effects of IF-EMF on gene expression patterns in the brain, behavior patterns associated with learning and memory, and immune function. Excerpt The main sources of IF-EMF can be divided into the following areas. Industry: dielectric heater sealers, induction and plasma heaters, broadcast and telecommunication transmitters General public: induction cookers, proximity readers, electronic article surveillance systems and other anti-theft devices, computer monitors, and TV sets Hospitals: MRI systems, electromagnetic nerve stimulators, electrosurgical instruments, and other medical devices Defense: submarine communication transmitters and high frequency (HF) transmitters. Conclusion As the use of IF-EMF-based devices such as induction cookers and wireless power transfer increases, it is meaningful to comprehensively summarize the biological effects of IF-EMF studies conducted so far, especially animal studies. We reviewed a total of 38 experimental studies published from databases EMF Portal and PubMed between January 1988 to August 2021 that used rats or mice to investigate the effects of IF-EMF on prolonged exposure, developmental stages, tumorigenicity, effects on sperm fertility, and other effects that linked IF-EMF exposure during pregnancy or neonatal stage to behavioral and cognition changes. In addition, studies on gene expression in the brain, learning and memory behaviors, and immune functions by IF-EMFs have also been evaluated. Even though most studies have reported that IF-EMFs do not induce any adverse effects, some studies have linked harmful effects on early development in mice. The adverse effects on neutrophil count, cytokines, and the concentrations of testosterone and progesterone, and the alteration of mRNA or protein expression levels in the brain, were also reported. However, the health effects of IF-EMF exposure were not independently reproduced and were not dependent on the degree of IF-EMF exposure. Therefore, we concluded that IF-EMF exposure within ICNRP limits (ICNRP reference levels: 27 μT for the general public and 100 μT for occupational exposure) did not produce any harmful effects on animals. Of course, more research needs to be done using the latest biomedical tools, however, a comprehensive review of IF-EMF studies, especially animal studies, will provide a valuable basis for further risk analysis of IF-EMF in humans. tandfonline.com

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMurine models (rats or mice)

Sample size38

ExposureIF · prolonged exposure; pregnancy or neonatal stage exposures (as reviewed)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarized 38 experimental rat/mouse studies (1988–2021) on intermediate-frequency EMF exposure. Most studies reported no adverse effects, but some reported harmful effects on early development in mice and changes in immune markers, sex hormones, and brain mRNA/protein expression. The authors conclude that IF-EMF exposure within ICNIRP limits did not produce harmful effects on animals, noting reported effects were not independently reproduced and were not dependent on exposure degree.

Outcomes measured

general adverse effects
tumorigenic effects
developmental effects (pregnancy/neonatal exposure)
behavior and cognition changes
gene expression patterns in the brain (mRNA/protein expression)
learning and memory behaviors
immune function (neutrophil count, cytokines)
sperm fertility
hormone concentrations (testosterone, progesterone)

Limitations

Health effects reported in some studies were not independently reproduced (as stated by authors).
Reported effects were not dependent on the degree of IF-EMF exposure (as stated by authors).
Review limited to experimental murine (rat/mouse) studies.
Only literature from January 1988 to August 2021 was included.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "IF",
    "source": "induction cookers; wireless power transfer; various industrial/general public/hospital/defense sources (as described)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "prolonged exposure; pregnancy or neonatal stage exposures (as reviewed)"
  },
  "population": "Murine models (rats or mice)",
  "sample_size": 38,
  "outcomes": [
    "general adverse effects",
    "tumorigenic effects",
    "developmental effects (pregnancy/neonatal exposure)",
    "behavior and cognition changes",
    "gene expression patterns in the brain (mRNA/protein expression)",
    "learning and memory behaviors",
    "immune function (neutrophil count, cytokines)",
    "sperm fertility",
    "hormone concentrations (testosterone, progesterone)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review summarized 38 experimental rat/mouse studies (1988–2021) on intermediate-frequency EMF exposure. Most studies reported no adverse effects, but some reported harmful effects on early development in mice and changes in immune markers, sex hormones, and brain mRNA/protein expression. The authors conclude that IF-EMF exposure within ICNIRP limits did not produce harmful effects on animals, noting reported effects were not independently reproduced and were not dependent on exposure degree.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Health effects reported in some studies were not independently reproduced (as stated by authors).",
    "Reported effects were not dependent on the degree of IF-EMF exposure (as stated by authors).",
    "Review limited to experimental murine (rat/mouse) studies.",
    "Only literature from January 1988 to August 2021 was included."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "intermediate frequency",
    "IF-EMF",
    "300 Hz to 10 MHz",
    "animal studies",
    "rats",
    "mice",
    "development",
    "pregnancy",
    "neonatal",
    "tumorigenicity",
    "immune function",
    "gene expression",
    "learning and memory",
    "ICNIRP limits",
    "induction cooker",
    "wireless power transfer"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.72,
      "reason": "Conclusion explicitly references ICNIRP limits and reference levels for general public and occupational exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2094016
PubMed: Not supplied

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