Summary
This review examines how human-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs), particularly extremely low frequency (ELF) fields and radiofrequency/microwave (RF) fields used in modern wireless technologies, may contribute to DNA damage and disease. Although RF EMFs are classified as “non-ionizing,” the review emphasizes that most modern RF signals are modulated or pulsed and therefore contain ELF components, making them biologically distinct from natural EMFs.
The core mechanism proposed involves disruption of voltage-gated ion channels. Polarized, coherent EMFs can force ions near these channels into abnormal oscillatory motion, leading to irregular opening and closing of the channels. This ion-channel dysregulation disturbs intracellular ionic balance—especially calcium signaling—and triggers excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The resulting oxidative stress damages lipids, proteins, and DNA, producing genotoxic effects such as DNA strand breaks and chromosomal abnormalities.
The review links this oxidative DNA damage to outcomes including cell death, infertility, cancer, and other diseases associated with chronic oxidative stress. Supporting evidence suggests that ELF EMFs (such as those from power lines) are associated with increased cancer risk, and that many non-thermal biological effects attributed to RF EMFs likely arise from their embedded ELF components rather than the RF carrier wave itself.
Overall, the authors conclude that human-made EMFs, due to their polarization, coherence, modulation, and ELF components, can disrupt ion-channel function and promote oxidative stress and DNA damage. This framework offers a plausible biological explanation for observed associations between EMF exposure and cancer and other health effects, independent of tissue heating.
PMID: 34617575
DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5272
Abstract
Exposure of animals/biological samples to human‑made electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band, and the microwave/radio frequency (RF) band which is always combined with ELF, may lead to DNA damage. DNA damage is connected with cell death, infertility and other pathologies, including cancer. ELF exposure from high‑voltage power lines and complex RF exposure from wireless communication antennas/devices are linked to increased cancer risk. Almost all human‑made RF EMFs include ELF components in the form of modulation, pulsing and random variability. Thus, in addition to polarization and coherence, the existence of ELFs is a common feature of almost all human‑made EMFs. The present study reviews the DNA damage and related effects induced by human‑made EMFs. The ion forced‑oscillation mechanism for irregular gating of voltage‑gated ion channels on cell membranes by polarized/coherent EMFs is extensively described. Dysfunction of ion channels disrupts intracellular ionic concentrations, which determine the cell's electrochemical balance and homeostasis. The present study shows how this can result in DNA damage through reactive oxygen species/free radical overproduction. Thus, a complete picture is provided of how human‑made EMF exposure may indeed lead to DNA damage and related pathologies, including cancer. Moreover, it is suggested that the non‑thermal biological effects attributed to RF EMFs are actually due to their ELF components.
Panagopoulos DJ, Karabarbounis A, Yakymenko I, Chrousos GP. Human‑made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced‑oscillation and voltage‑gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review). Int J Oncol. 2021 Nov;59(5):92. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5272. Epub 2021 Oct 7. PMID: 34617575; PMCID: PMC8562392.