Disturbance of the immune system by electromagnetic fields-A potentially underlying cause for cellular damage and tissue repair reduction which could lead to disease and impairment

Disturbance of the immune system by electromagnetic fields-A
potentially underlying cause for cellular damage and tissue repair
reduction which could lead to disease and impairment

Olle Johansson ∗
The Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Received 23 August 2008; accepted 30 January 2009

Abstract
A number of papers dealing with the effects of modern, man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the immune system are summarized
in the present review. EMFs disturb immune function through stimulation of various allergic and inflammatory responses, as well as effects
on tissue repair processes. Such disturbances increase the risks for various diseases, including cancer. These and the EMF effects on other
biological processes (e.g. DNA damage, neurological effects, etc.) are now widely reported to occur at exposure levels significantly below
most current national and international safety limits. Obviously, biologically based exposure standards are needed to prevent disruption of
normal body processes and potential adverse health effects of chronic exposure.
Based on this review, as well as the reviews in the recent Bioinitiative Report [http://www.bioinitiative.org/] [C.F. Blackman, M. Blank, M.
Kundi, C. Sage, D.O. Carpenter, Z. Davanipour, D. Gee, L. Hardell, O. Johansson, H. Lai, K.H. Mild, A. Sage, E.L. Sobel, Z. Xu, G. Chen,
The Bioinitiative Report-A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF), 2007)],
it must be concluded that the existing public safety limits are inadequate to protect public health, and that new public safety limits, as well as
limits on further deployment of untested technologies, are warranted.
© 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Immunology; Radiofrequency fields; Magnetic fields; Power-frequency

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