Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Teratogen update: electromagnetic fields

E Robert1

  • 1Institut European des Genomutations, Lyon, France.

Teratology
|December 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Public concern exists regarding health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Current research on extremely low frequency (ELF) and very low frequency (VLF) EMFs shows no convincing evidence of harm to human reproduction.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum and advanced cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma and literature review.

Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie·2026
Same author

[Epidemiology of burns in mayotte in 2022: an exhaustive study on a particular health area].

Annals of burns and fire disasters·2025
Same author

Demonstration for cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet operation and antibacterial action in microgravity.

NPJ microgravity·2024
Same author

Symptoms and management of cow's milk allergy: perception and evidence.

Frontiers in allergy·2024
Same author

Sustained xanthophyll pigments-related photoprotective NPQ is involved in photoinhibition in the haptophyte Tisochrysis lutea.

Scientific reports·2023
Same author

[Shape and aesthetic outcome evaluation of transposed umbilicus according to four surgical procedures].

Annales de chirurgie plastique et esthetique·2020
Same journal

Statement of the Public Affairs Committee of the Teratology Society on the fetal alcohol syndrome.

Teratology·2002
Same journal

Quantification and localization of expression of the retinoic acid receptor-beta and -gamma mRNA isoforms during neurulation in mouse embryos with or without spina bifida.

Teratology·2002
Same journal

Timing of prenatal care initiation and risk of congenital malformations.

Teratology·2002
Same journal

A new rapid radiological procedure for routine teratological use in bone ossification assessment: a supplement for staining methods.

Teratology·2002
Same journal

Dose and litter allocations in the design of teratological studies for detecting hormesis.

Teratology·2002
Same journal

Effect of sera from women with systemic lupus erythematosus or antiphospholipid syndrome and recurrent abortions on human placental explants in culture.

Teratology·2002
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Biophysics
  • Reproductive Epidemiology

Background:

  • Growing public concern surrounds potential health impacts of extremely low frequency (ELF) and very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
  • While biological activity of EMFs is debated, definitive mechanisms linking EMFs to bioeffects remain unidentified.
  • Over 50 animal studies have investigated EMF exposures, yielding some statistically significant but largely unreproducible results of low effect magnitude.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing scientific evidence on the potential health effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) and very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
  • Specifically, to assess the impact of EMF exposure on human reproductive outcomes.
  • To provide guidance for counseling pregnant women regarding EMF exposure.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of over 50 animal studies on EMF exposure.
  • Analysis of human epidemiological data concerning reproductive effects (spontaneous abortion, low birthweight, congenital malformations) linked to various EMF sources.
  • Consideration of occupational exposures, including video display terminals (VDTs).

Main Results:

  • Animal studies showed some statistically significant effects, but results lacked inter-laboratory reproducibility and effect sizes were small.
  • Human data reviewed did not provide convincing evidence that low-frequency EMFs commonly encountered in daily or occupational life harm the human reproductive process.
  • No basis was found to restrict human exposure to electromagnetic fields and radiation based on current evidence.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence does not support a causal link between typical occupational or daily life exposure to low-frequency EMFs and adverse reproductive outcomes.
  • Existing guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Non-ionizing Radiation Committee are recommended for counseling pregnant women.
  • Further investigation into observed low-magnitude effects in animal studies may be warranted, but human relevance is currently unproven.