Health Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation: A Focus on Radiofrequency (RF) and Microwave Radiation

Mohammad Rahim Sadeqi; Noor Mohammad Azizi

doi:10.62810/jnsr.v3i4.274

Authors

Mohammad Rahim Sadeqi Department of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan
Noor Mohammad Azizi Department of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Faculty of Physics, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62810/jnsr.v3i4.274

Keywords:

Cognitive function, Non-thermal effects, Oxidative stress, Public health, Safety standards

Abstract

The growing presence of radiofrequency (RF) and microwave electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in everyday environments—driven by widespread mobile communication systems, Wi-Fi networks, and rapidly expanding 5G infrastructure—has raised increasing public health concerns. While RF/MW radiation is categorized as non-ionizing due to its insufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules, research indicates that it may still interact with biological systems through non-thermal mechanisms such as electromagnetic coupling, induced currents, and oxidative stress. This paper aims to investigate the potential health effects associated with chronic low-level RF/MW exposure. A critical literature review was conducted using recent peer-reviewed studies and health agency guidelines to evaluate observed biological outcomes and compare them with existing safety standards. The review highlights consistent evidence linking prolonged exposure to sleep disruption, increased oxidative stress, neurobehavioral alterations, and potential reproductive risks. Current exposure limits are largely based on thermal effects and may not sufficiently address sub-threshold, long-term biological interactions. This paper identifies a significant research gap in dosimetric criteria and calls for a reevaluation of public health policies. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies in real-world exposure scenarios and explore specific mechanisms such as ion channel modulation and signal modulation sensitivity. These efforts are essential to develop more protective exposure guidelines for increasingly connected populations.

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