Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health

Environ Res · 2018 · Harm · Insufficient evidence

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HarmInsufficient evidencePaper 2148

Study snapshot

PublicationEnviron Res · 2018

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health Pall M.L. Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health. Environmental Research. 164:405-416. 2018. Abstract Repeated Wi-Fi studies show that Wi-Fi causes oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric effects including EEG changes, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload. Each of these effects are also caused by exposures to other microwave frequency EMFs, with each such effect being documented in from 10 to 16 reviews. Therefore, each of these seven EMF effects are established effects of Wi- Fi and of other microwave frequency EMFs. Each of these seven is also produced by downstream effects of the main action of such EMFs, voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. While VGCC activation via EMF interaction with the VGCC voltage sensor seems to be the predominant mechanism of action of EMFs, other mechanisms appear to have minor roles. Minor roles include activation of other voltage-gated ion channels, calcium cyclotron resonance and the geomagnetic magnetoreception mechanism. Five properties of non-thermal EMF effects are discussed. These are that pulsed EMFs are, in most cases, more active than are non-pulsed EMFs; artificial EMFs are polarized and such polarized EMFs are much more active than non-polarized EMFs; dose-response curves are non-linear and non-monotone; EMF effects are often cumulative; and EMFs may impact young people more than adults. These general findings and data presented earlier on Wi-Fi effects were used to assess the Foster and Moulder (F&M) review of Wi-Fi. The F&M study claimed that there were seven important studies of Wi-Fi that each showed no effect. However, none of these were Wi-Fi studies, with each differing from genuine Wi-Fi in three distinct ways. F&M could, at most conclude that there was no statistically significant evidence of an effect. The tiny numbers studied in each of these seven F&M-linked studies show that each of them lack power to make any substantive conclusions. In conclusion, there are seven repeatedly found Wi-Fi effects which have also been shown to be caused by other similar EMF exposures. Each of the seven should be considered, therefore, as established effects of Wi-Fi. doi.org

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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

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The review states that repeated Wi-Fi studies show oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric/EEG effects, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload, and argues these are established effects of Wi-Fi and other microwave-frequency EMFs. It proposes VGCC activation as the predominant mechanism and critiques another review (Foster and Moulder) as relying on small, non-Wi-Fi studies and being underpowered to conclude no effect.

Outcomes measured

oxidative stress
sperm/testicular damage
neuropsychiatric effects
EEG changes
apoptosis
cellular DNA damage
endocrine changes
calcium overload
voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "oxidative stress",
    "sperm/testicular damage",
    "neuropsychiatric effects",
    "EEG changes",
    "apoptosis",
    "cellular DNA damage",
    "endocrine changes",
    "calcium overload",
    "voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The review states that repeated Wi-Fi studies show oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric/EEG effects, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium overload, and argues these are established effects of Wi-Fi and other microwave-frequency EMFs. It proposes VGCC activation as the predominant mechanism and critiques another review (Foster and Moulder) as relying on small, non-Wi-Fi studies and being underpowered to conclude no effect.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Wi-Fi",
    "microwave frequency EMFs",
    "oxidative stress",
    "DNA damage",
    "apoptosis",
    "endocrine changes",
    "EEG",
    "sperm",
    "testicular damage",
    "VGCC",
    "voltage-gated calcium channel",
    "non-thermal effects",
    "pulsed EMFs",
    "polarization",
    "dose-response"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.035
PubMed: Not supplied

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