A Systematic Review of the Impact of Electromagnetic Waves on Living Beings

Cureus · 2025 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2543

Study snapshot

PublicationCureus · 2025

Study typesystematic_review

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Category: Systematic Review / Environmental Health Tags: electromagnetic fields, health risk, systematic review, biological effects, oxidative stress, public health, environmental exposure DOI: 10.7759/cureus.90355 URL: cureus.com electromagnetic-waves-on-living-beings#!/ Overview The effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have generated significant debate among both researchers and the public, yet their critical consequences are often dismissed or considered unscientific. To address this, the authors conducted a systematic review focusing on the detrimental effects of EMFs on living organisms. Methodology - Adhered to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. - Performed comprehensive searches across PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. - Included studies published between 2017 and 2024 on the physiological or behavioral responses to EMF exposure, emphasizing those reporting harmful or concerning effects. - Assessed methodological quality using established bias tools and applied the GRADE framework for certainty of evidence. Findings - Out of all screened articles, 24 studies were included: 5 non-randomized human studies, 7 in vitro studies, and 12 animal studies. - EMFs were shown to negatively affect various biological systems in living organisms. Documented effects included: - Oxidative stress mechanisms - Inflammatory responses - Cellular, physiological, and ecological disruptions - Genotoxicity, cardiovascular effects, male fertility disruption, neuronal brain activity impacts, and effects on plant photosynthesis - Most studies demonstrated a moderate to high risk of bias; overall certainty of evidence was therefore lower. Conclusion Findings from this review highlight significant health and environmental risks from rising EMF exposure. Despite these findings, long-term risks, especially for human populations, remain poorly understood and demand further targeted research and mitigation strategies. The rise of wireless technologies introduces new, higher-frequency exposures, and the study underscores biological effects seen in humans, animals, and plants—including changes in fertility, oxidative stress, development, behavior, and cognition. The review points to research gaps in long-term effect studies, standardization in exposure protocols, and comprehensive population-specific assessments. The authors stress the importance of coordinated, unbiased, and transparent research to improve safety standards and informed public policy. - There is a clear connection between EMF exposure and health risks, with various biological effects documented across multiple studies.

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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 typesystematic_review

Effect directionharm

PopulationLiving organisms (humans, animals, plants); included studies comprised non-randomized human studies, in vitro studies, and animal studies.

Sample size24

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This systematic review included 24 studies (5 non-randomized human, 7 in vitro, 12 animal) and reported that EMF exposure was associated with multiple adverse biological effects across systems, including oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity, cardiovascular effects, male fertility disruption, neuronal activity impacts, and effects on plant photosynthesis. The authors note that most included studies had moderate to high risk of bias and that overall certainty of evidence was lower, with long-term human risks remaining poorly understood.

Outcomes measured

Oxidative stress
Inflammatory responses
Cellular, physiological, and ecological disruptions
Genotoxicity
Cardiovascular effects
Male fertility disruption
Neuronal brain activity impacts
Plant photosynthesis effects
Developmental effects
Behavioral effects
Cognition effects

Limitations

Included studies emphasized those reporting harmful or concerning effects (potential selection bias in included evidence base).
Most included studies demonstrated moderate to high risk of bias.
Overall certainty of evidence was lower per GRADE.
Long-term risks, especially for human populations, remain poorly understood.
Research gaps noted in standardization of exposure protocols and population-specific assessments.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "systematic_review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Living organisms (humans, animals, plants); included studies comprised non-randomized human studies, in vitro studies, and animal studies.",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Oxidative stress",
    "Inflammatory responses",
    "Cellular, physiological, and ecological disruptions",
    "Genotoxicity",
    "Cardiovascular effects",
    "Male fertility disruption",
    "Neuronal brain activity impacts",
    "Plant photosynthesis effects",
    "Developmental effects",
    "Behavioral effects",
    "Cognition effects"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This systematic review included 24 studies (5 non-randomized human, 7 in vitro, 12 animal) and reported that EMF exposure was associated with multiple adverse biological effects across systems, including oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity, cardiovascular effects, male fertility disruption, neuronal activity impacts, and effects on plant photosynthesis. The authors note that most included studies had moderate to high risk of bias and that overall certainty of evidence was lower, with long-term human risks remaining poorly understood.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Included studies emphasized those reporting harmful or concerning effects (potential selection bias in included evidence base).",
    "Most included studies demonstrated moderate to high risk of bias.",
    "Overall certainty of evidence was lower per GRADE.",
    "Long-term risks, especially for human populations, remain poorly understood.",
    "Research gaps noted in standardization of exposure protocols and population-specific assessments."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "electromagnetic waves",
    "systematic review",
    "PRISMA",
    "GRADE",
    "oxidative stress",
    "inflammation",
    "genotoxicity",
    "fertility",
    "cardiovascular",
    "neuronal activity",
    "photosynthesis",
    "environmental exposure",
    "public health"
  ],
  "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: 10.7759/cureus.90355
PubMed: Not supplied

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