Nonionizing electromagnetic fields and cancer: a review

Low-frequency electromagnetic radiation had previously been thought to cause human injury only by generation of excess heat or by shock from direct contact with electric current. Information accumulating over the past few decades, however, suggests that nonionizing electric and magnetic fields associated with this radiation may be an environmental etiology in human disease. Human beings are affected not only by natural background nonionizing electromagnetic fields produced by the Earth, but also by a host of manmade sources. Of the diseases believed related to these fields, cancer and participation of these fields in the carcinogenic process have received considerable attention. This paper is a review of the basic science that points to this possible association.