RF Safe

The response of human bacteria to static magnetic field and radiofrequency electromagnetic field.

Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea) · 2017 · Mixed · Very low evidence

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MixedVery low evidencePaper 4903

Growth patterns of laboratory cultures under static magnetic field were variable by species. Skin microbiota isolates from 4 subjects with different cell phone usage histories showed inconsistent growth responses; authors hypothesize that cell phone-level RF-…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea) · 2017
Study typeother
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Cell phones and electronic appliances and devices are inseparable from most people in modern society and the electromagnetic field (EMF) from the devices is a potential health threat. Although the direct health effect of a cell phone and its radiofrequency (RF) EMF to human is still elusive, the effect to unicellular organisms is rather apparent. Human microbiota, including skin microbiota, has been linked to a very significant role in the health of a host human body. It is important to understand the response of human skin microbiota to the RF-EMF from cell phones and personal electronic devices, since this may be one of the potential mechanisms of a human health threat brought about by the disruption of the intimate and balanced host-microbiota relationship. Here, we investigated the response of both laboratory culture strains and isolates of skin bacteria under static magnetic field (SMF) and RF-EMF. The growth patterns of laboratory cultures of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis under SMF were variable per different species. The bacterial isolates of skin microbiota from 4 subjects with different cell phone usage history also showed inconsistent growth responses. These findings led us to hypothesize that cell phone level RF-EMF disrupts human skin microbiota. Thus, the results from the current study lay ground for more comprehensive research on the effect of RF-EMF on human health through the human-microbiota relationship.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typeother
Effect directionmixed
PopulationLaboratory culture strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and skin bacterial isolates from 4 human subjects
Sample size4
ExposureRF
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Growth patterns of laboratory cultures under static magnetic field were variable by species. Skin microbiota isolates from 4 subjects with different cell phone usage histories showed inconsistent growth responses; authors hypothesize that cell phone-level RF-EMF may disrupt human skin microbiota.

Outcomes measured

  • Bacterial growth patterns/responses under static magnetic field (SMF) and radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF)

Limitations

  • RF-EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR, duration) not reported in abstract
  • Very small number of human subjects for skin isolates (n=4)
  • Results described as variable/inconsistent across species and subjects
  • Health outcomes in humans not assessed; study focuses on bacterial growth responses
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Laboratory culture strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and skin bacterial isolates from 4 human subjects",
  "sample_size": 4,
  "outcomes": [
    "Bacterial growth patterns/responses under static magnetic field (SMF) and radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Growth patterns of laboratory cultures under static magnetic field were variable by species. Skin microbiota isolates from 4 subjects with different cell phone usage histories showed inconsistent growth responses; authors hypothesize that cell phone-level RF-EMF may disrupt human skin microbiota.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "RF-EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, SAR, duration) not reported in abstract",
    "Very small number of human subjects for skin isolates (n=4)",
    "Results described as variable/inconsistent across species and subjects",
    "Health outcomes in humans not assessed; study focuses on bacterial growth responses"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMF",
    "static magnetic field",
    "SMF",
    "cell phone",
    "skin microbiota",
    "bacteria",
    "Escherichia coli",
    "Pseudomonas aeruginosa",
    "Staphylococcus epidermidis",
    "growth"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rf-emf-microbiome",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Investigates responses of skin bacteria/microbiota isolates to RF-EMF and SMF, discussing potential disruption of host-microbiota balance."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1007/s12275-017-7208-7
PubMed: 28956351

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