A Systematic Review of the Impact of Electromagnetic Waves on Living Beings

The effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been extensively debated among researchers and the public, with their critical consequences often dismissed or deemed unscientific. In light of this, we conducted this systematic review that extensively focuses on the detrimental effects of EMFs on living organisms. A comprehensive and systematic literature search was performed on various electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. This review concentrates on experimental studies published between 2017 and 2024 that investigated physiological or behavioral responses to EMF exposure, with particular attention given to those reporting harmful or concerning effects. Documented impacts include effects on humans, animals, and plants, targeting various cell types (e.g., blood, cancer, thyroid, cochlea), genotoxicity, cardiovascular parameters (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure), male fertility (e.g., testes, sperm), neuronal brain activity, and photosynthesis in plants. Methodological quality was assessed using established bias assessment tools, and certainty of evidence was evaluated according to the GRADE framework. After screening, 24 studies were included in the present review; five studies were non-randomized and involved humans, seven studies were in vitro, and 12 studies were conducted on animals. The findings demonstrated that EMFs negatively affect a wide array of biological systems of living organisms, including mechanisms of oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and disruptions in cellular, physiological, and ecological processes. Most of the included studies showed a moderate to high risk of bias, which contributed to a lower overall certainty of the evidence. These findings underscore the significant health and environmental risks associated with rising exposure levels of EMF, highlighting the urgent need for strategies to mitigate the risks. Despite these valuable insights, significant research gaps persist because the long-term effects of EMF exposure, especially on human populations, remain poorly understood and warrant further investigation and targeted mitigation strategies.