How Cancer Can Be Caused by Microwave Frequency Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposures: EMF Activation of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels (VGCCs) Can Cause Cancer Including Tumor Promotion, Tissue Invasion, and Metastasis via 15 Mechanisms

2018 · Harm · Moderate evidence

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HarmModerate evidencePaper 1771

The review discusses 15 plausible mechanisms by which microwave frequency EMFs can cause cancer via activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), leading to increased intracellular calcium and oxidative stress pathways. These mechanisms include DNA da…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

How Cancer Can Be Caused by Microwave Frequency Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposures: EMF Activation of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels (VGCCs) Can Cause Cancer Including Tumor Promotion, Tissue Invasion, and Metastasis via 15 Mechanisms By Martin L. Pall. Chapter 7: pp. 163-186. Abstract Thirty reviews each argue that microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can and do cause cancer. These conclusions should be definitive and are further buttressed by the National Toxicology Program study on 2G cell phone radiation. However, there are still claims that there cannot be a mechanism for EMF cancer causation. Such EMFs are known to act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation and consequent downstream increases in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i and peroxynitrite/free radicals/oxidative stress. Fifteen mechanisms are discussed here whereby these downstream effects can cause cancer. These include single strand and double strand DNA breaks and oxidized DNA bases; increased ornithine decarboxylase; lowered melatonin; increased NF-kappa B; increased tumor promotion via degradation of gap junction proteins; increased tumor promotion via DNA breaks/gene amplification; increased tissue invasion and metastasis via increased tight junction protein degradation; increased CaMKII via protein oxidation; calcium produced increased CaMKII; calcium-dependent phosphatidylserine flippase; c-src activation by calcium/calmodulin; calcium increased cellular oncogene transcription; calpain activation of tumor migration, tissue invasion, and metastasis. These 15 mechanisms and reviews on calcium roles in cancer causation together show that EMFs acting via VGCC activation can cause cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. We have, therefore, a large number of mechanisms by which microwave frequency EMFs can cause cancer. Conclusions This paper is based on three important findings. First, that microwave and lower frequency EMFs act via activation of VGCCs. Second, 29 different reviews have concluded that such EMFs cause cancer, raising the question of how VGCC activation can cause cancer. Third, because VGCC activation acts mainly via increased [Ca2+]i, it is reasonable to assume that cancer causation occurs via increased calcium signaling and via other downstream effects of [Ca2+]i. This paper finds that there are multiple mechanisms that fit each of these two descriptions that cause cancer based on the cancer literature. Many of them come from the downstream effects involving the peroxynitrite/free radical/oxidative stress pathway and one of the important consequences of that pathway, elevated NF-kappa B. Those downstream effects are similar or identical to the effects that are central to inflammatory carcinogenesis in the literature. But, in addition, there are cancer causing effects that are caused by excessive calcium signaling and these are also discussed here. These mechanisms are listed below. Mechanisms 1-6 are all reported to be raised following EMF exposures and are, therefore, particularly plausibly involved in EMF-caused carcinogenesis. Each of these 15 is produced as a consequence of either the peroxynitrite/free radical/oxidative stress pathway of action of as a consequence of excessive calcium signaling. Each is, therefore, highly plausible because each of these pathways of action are well documented downstream effects of EMF exposures.... We have, then, 15 well-documented mechanisms by which EMFs acting via VGCC activation can cause cancer. It is complete and utter to nonsense, therefore, to claim there are no such mechanisms. How Cancer Can Be Caused by Microwave Frequency Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposures EMF Activation of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels (VGCCs) Can Cause Cancer Including Tumor Promotion, Tissue Invasion, and Metastasis via 15 Mechanisms ByMartin L. Pall Book Mobile Communications and Public Health Edition1st Edition First Published2018 ImprintCRC Press Pages22 Share Share ABSTRACT Thirty reviews each argue that microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can and do cause cancer. These conclusions should be definitive and are further buttressed by the National Institute of Toxicology study on 2G cell phone radiation. However, there are still claims that there cannot be a mechanism for EMF cancer causation. Such EMFs are known to act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation and consequent downstream increases in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i and peroxynitrite/free radicals/oxidative stress. Fifteen mechanisms are discussed here whereby these downstream effects can cause cancer. These include single strand and double strand DNA breaks and oxidized DNA bases; increased ornithine decarboxylase; lowered melatonin; increased NF-kappa B; increased tumor promotion via degradation of gap junction proteins; increased tumor promotion via DNA breaks/gene amplification; increased tissue invasion and metastasis via increased tight junction protein degradation; increased CaMKII via protein oxidation; calcium produced increased CaMKII; calcium-dependent phosphatidylserine flippase; c-src activation by calcium/calmodulin; calcium increased cellular oncogene transcription; calpain activation of tumor migration, tissue invasion, and metastasis. These 15 mechanisms and reviews on calcium roles in cancer causation together show that EMFs acting via VGCC activation can cause cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. We have, therefore, a large number of mechanisms by which microwave frequency EMFs can cause cancer.

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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 directionharm

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave frequency

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 70% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

cancer initiation
tumor promotion
tissue invasion
metastasis

Limitations

No new experimental data presented, based on literature review
Mechanistic pathways proposed but direct causal evidence in humans not provided
Reliance on interpretation of multiple prior reviews and studies

View raw extracted JSON

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  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave frequency",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "cancer initiation",
    "tumor promotion",
    "tissue invasion",
    "metastasis"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The review discusses 15 plausible mechanisms by which microwave frequency EMFs can cause cancer via activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), leading to increased intracellular calcium and oxidative stress pathways. These mechanisms include DNA damage, increased tumor promotion, and enhanced tissue invasion and metastasis.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "No new experimental data presented, based on literature review",
    "Mechanistic pathways proposed but direct causal evidence in humans not provided",
    "Reliance on interpretation of multiple prior reviews and studies"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave frequency",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "cancer",
    "voltage-gated calcium channels",
    "VGCC",
    "oxidative stress",
    "tumor promotion",
    "metastasis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.7,
      "reason": "Focus on microwave frequency EMF relevant to mobile communications"
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Mechanistic review relevant to health guidelines on EMF 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.

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PubMed: Not supplied

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