emf-info

Health – Cancer

The influence of high and low frequency fields on the risk of cancer was not limited to investigations into leukaemia and brain tumours but included other types of cancer, in particular: 

  • Breast cancer
  • Eye tumours
  • Testicular tumours
  • Salivary gland tumours
  • Skin cancer

The studies into a possible connection between high frequency EMFs and the cancers listed above currently available provide few indications of a possibly increased risk. This is also due to the fact that there are not many such studies available and most are based on a limited number of cases only. Specialist bodies accordingly point out that a comprehensive evaluation of the risk, should there be one, is not yet possible.

Similar assessment holds for domestic or occupational exposures to ELF magnetic fields. Most studies, and especially the most recent studies, do not show increased risks.

Selected literature (overviews)

Literature List 2019 on RF Exposure and Cancer (without Brain Tumours)

BioInitiative Working Group (2012). Health effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. BioInitiative Report, www.bioinitiative.org. Sections 13 and 14.

Dürrenberger, G., Leuchtmann, P., Röösli, M., Siegrist, M., Sütterlin, B. (2015). Fachliteratur-Monitoring "EMF von Strom-Technologien". BFE, Bern. Publication 291030, section 3.3.2.3.

IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (2002). Non-ionizing radiation, part 1: static and extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields. IARC Monograph 80, Lyon.

IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (2013). Non-ionizing radiation, part 2: radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. IARC Monograph 102, Lyon.

Independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) (2012). Health effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.  U.K. Health Protection Agency, Oxfordshire. Chapter 8, selected sessions.

SSM (Swedish Radiation Safety Authority) (2013). Eighth Report of the Scientific Council on Electromagnetic Fields. Stockholm: SSM.

Strahlenschutzkommission (SSK) (2011). Vergleichende Bewertung der Evidenz von Krebsrisiken durch elektromagnetische Felder und Strahlungen Stellungnahme der Strahlenschutzkommission  mit wissenschaftlicher Begründung. Bonn: Strahlenschutzkommission.