Health-related effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: an update

Several studies have reported associations of exposures to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (REF) with neoplasia. Other research did not confirm that. Epidemiological research is associated with selection, recall and other bias. A narrative review, analyzing mechanisms, may be more informative than a systematic one, assessing studies of different quality and reliability. A moderate increase of registered incidence reported for some diseases has been out of proportion to the rapid expansion of mobile communication, being explainable by improvements of diagnostics. In some experiments, REF was associated with an increase in some age-related tumors and, at the same time, with a prolonged survival of exposed animals. Thermal and non-thermal effects of REF are analyzed here. In conclusion, there is neither convincing evidence nor theoretic plausibility of a cause-effect relationship between REF and cancer. Reliable evidence can be obtained by large-scale animal experiments. To reduce the cost of experiments, it would suffice to maintain large animal groups in equivalent conditions and to record the life span. Excessively strict safety regulations are unfavorable for the economy.