Physicians for Safe Technology

Wireless Technology and Public Health

Cardiac Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation

Updated  11/15/23

Scientific Literature

Cardiovascular Effects of Radio frequency Radiation

Radio frequency radiation (RFR) from wireless devices passes through the body and can affect all organ systems. A mechanism of injury has been documented in the basic science literature to be related to calcium channels, oxidative stress and the creation of reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, which are known to damage DNA, lipids and proteins.   Research is limited on non-ionizing radiation on the cardiovascular system but studies have shown evidence of  changes in autonomic function with a cell phone radiation or Wi Fi router radiation, including heart rhythm, blood pressure and catecholamine efficacy on the heart. Turedi (2015) looked at prenatal exposure to cell phone radiation in rat pups. They found “swelling in the mitochondria, degeneration in myofibrils and structural impairments” with histopathologic evidence of oxidative stress. ” Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation is now a well studied mechanism for heart disease and atherosclerosis (Poznyak 2021: Gianazza 2019: Anderson 2012). See below.

Is Wireless Radiation an Emerging Environmental Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiac disease remains the number one cause of death globally according to the WHO. An Australian study by Vernon (2017) examined cardiac disease and Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors (SMCVRF). The researchers found a significant rise in the proportion of STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) patients with poor or no association to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In these patients there was a reduction of cholesterol and smoking, and with no change in hypertension or diabetes. They called for new approaches to explain this.

Bandara and Weller (2017) responded by publishing seminal paper, “Cardiovascular disease: Time to identify emerging environmental risk factors“, in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology. They point out the strong and growing evidence that radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from wireless devices can negatively affect normal functioning of cellular processes throughout the body via oxidation/inflammation pathways.  Starting with military studies that clearly showed cardiovascular effects they end with a review of 242 studies on RFR and oxidative stress noting, “A staggering 216 (89%) of them found significant effects”.

It is well known that oxidative stress is associated with inflammation and cardiovascular disease. To improve the outcome for cardiac patients the researchers add, “As for recovery from STEMI, restoration of myocardial perfusion can be compromised by changes of endothelial integrity, platelet aggregation, neutrophil infiltration and inflammation after an acute thrombotic coronary occlusion. At a cellular level, these processes are controlled by redox mechanisms/signalling pathways and therefore, actively reducing exposure to RF-EMR warrants consideration as part of post-STEMI patient management. Indeed, we require high quality clinical studies to investigate if such an approach is effective.” They also highlight the widespread ignorance of physicians in this matter.

Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation Cause Atherosclerosis and Heart Disease

Dr. Beatrice Golomb, Internal Medicine Professor at UCSD, notes, “Oxidative stress is a well-known factor in heart disease and cardiac events. Oxidized LDL, disproportionate to (if not in lieu of) overall LDL, is a major player. The oxidative stress that is reflected by higher levels of oxidized LDL (OxLDL) contributes both to impaired cell energy, but also leads to “endothelial dysfunction” in which there can be shutting down rather than opening up of blood vessels in response to signals of increased blood/oxygen needs. There can be blood vessel spasms akin to the Prinzmetal angina seen with cigarette smoking.”

Poznyak et al (2021) in a thorough review paper highlight that, “Cardiovascular pathologies maintain the leading position in mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that can result in a variety of serious complications, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Inflammation and lipid metabolism alterations play a crucial role in atherogenesis…Oxidative stress manifests itself in excessive ROS generation and oxidation of LDL particles. The emergence of oxLDL is crucial for the progression of CVD linked to atherosclerosis. The main factor underlying oxidative stress is a disbalance between radical production (reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species formation) and radical scavenging systems (the antioxidant defense system)”

Gianazza et al (2019) wrote, ‘Lipid peroxidation is propagated in a process that is called “chain reaction mechanism”, which usually terminates when an antioxidant molecule reacts with the lipid peroxide radical. ‘ The paper highlights several conclusions.

  • Lipid peroxidation products represent a broad category of highly reactive compounds.
  • They exert biological effects due to modifications of biological macromolecules.
  • Oxidized lipids relevant in cardiovascular diseases originate from many sources.
  • The heart is particularly vulnerable to accumulation of lipid peroxidation products.
  • Lipid peroxidation products exert many effects on cardiomyocytes, usually detrimental.
  • Lipids, with a relevant role in the onset of cardiovascular diseases and susceptible to oxidation, can be originated from many sources, both in the bloodstream as in tissues

Anderson et al (2012) note, “The heart is a highly oxidative organ in which cardiomyocyte turnover is virtually absent, making it particularly vulnerable to accumulation of lipid peroxidation products (LPPs) formed as a result of oxidative damage.”… The accumulation of these oxidative products is now a well-recognized causative factor in aging and age-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In fact, for all diseases where acute and chronic oxidative stress is either a causative factor or deleterious consequence, lipid peroxides are starting to take centre stage as the most potent, persistent and physiologically relevant agents of this stress–.

Zothansiama et al (2017) examined abnormalities in blood samples in people living at different distances from cell towers.  They identified a significant increase blood cell damage in those living within 80 meters of a cell tower versus those living greater than 300 meters from a cell tower. They found 1) A significant increase in micronuclei, which are small remnants of DNA nuclear material appearing within blood cells and a sensitive indicator of genotoxicity and chromosomal abnormalities 2) An increase in lipid peroxidation indicating free radical formation and cell membrane damage 3) A reduction in levels of internally produced antioxidant capacity (glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase).

The authors conclude,  “The present study demonstrated that staying near the mobile base stations and continuous use of mobile phones damage the DNA, and it may have an adverse effect in the long run. The persistence of DNA unrepaired damage leads to genomic instability which may lead to several health disorders including the induction of cancer.” As more base stations are deployed with higher density and with ubiquitous wireless devices at home it will be difficult to find control groups that have not been significantly exposed.

Heart Rate Variability with Acute Exposure to Cordless Phones

Havas and Marrongelle (2021) demonstrated heart rate variability in those who are sensitive to wireless radiofrequency radition from a 2.4GHz cordless phone. The double-blind, placebo-controlled replication study conducted on 69 subjects between the ages of 26 and 80 was published in the European Society of Medicine.

National Toxicology Program  Study Finds Cardiac Tumors and an Aging Heart (2018) 

The 10 year and $25 million dollar National Toxicology Program (NTP) on Cell Phones and Cancer study completed in 2018 revealed not only clear evidence of cardiac tumors and DNA damage but also histopathologic changes in the heart consistent with aging. This is consistent with the toxic oxidative effects seen in laboratory studies. See NTP Technical Report.

The NTP Report Noted Cardiomyopathy:

Page 138: “Cardiomyopathy of the right ventricular free wall was seen in all male and female groups, including the sham controls (Tables 49, C4, and D4). In males and females, the incidences in exposed groups were increased compared to the sham controls; the increased incidence in 6 W/kg males was statistically significant. The positive trend (P<0.001) was also significant in males. There was also a slight elevation in the severity of this nonneoplastic lesion in 6 W/kg males, but there was no similar elevation in severity in females. Cardiomyopathy of the right ventricle was initially diagnosed separately and an increased incidence was found in the 6 W/kg males compared to the sham controls. Cardiomyopathy in the CDMA-exposed rats was morphologically identical to that described previously for the GSM-exposed rats (page 100).”

Page 157: “In the heart, cell phone RFR exposure also induced higher incidences and severity of cardiomyopathy in the right ventricular free wall of male rats exposed to either GSM- or CDMA-modulated cell phone RFR and in female rats exposed to GSM-modulated cell phone RFR. The effect of cell phone RFR on cardiomyopathy appears to be specific to the right ventricle in these groups because incidences of cardiomyopathy in the whole heart were unchanged in males and CDMA females and lower in the GSM females compared to sham controls. Higher incidences of cardiomyopathy in the right ventricle of male rats exposed to GSM-modulated cell phone RFR compared to sham controls were also observed at the 14-week evaluation. For males exposed to CDMA-modulated cell phone RFR for 14 weeks, higher incidences of cardiomyopathy were observed relative to sham controls across the whole heart, not specifically in the right ventricle. The sporadic occurrences of schwannomas in the heart in females exposed to GSM or CDMA cell phone radiation were not considered to be related to RFR exposure… Cardiomyopathy is a common spontaneous disease in rats that typically has no clinical manifestations…The early observation of this lesion at 14 weeks in the 3 and 6 W/Kg GSM males and the relatively higher modeled organ-specific SAR for heart for both males and females compared to other organs (Gong et al. 2017) suggest that the heart is a specific target organ for cell phone RFR.”

Heart Palpitations and Electrosensitivity

Electrosensitivity  is an acute symptom complex in some 3% of individuals who experience heart palpitations, headaches, nausea, irritability which occur in the presence a cell phone, Wi Fi router, cell tower or other wireless devices. This appears related to multiple chemical sensitivity with common inflammatory biomarkers identified. (Belpomme 2015) . Electrosensitivity (also known as electrohypersensitivity, EHS or microwave illness) symptoms were highlighted in a NASA document ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD INTERACTIONS WITH THE HUMAN BODY: OBSERVED EFFECTS AND THEORIES 1981.   Electrosensitivity along with multiple chemical sensitivity is now being recognized by the United States Access Board as a disability “under the ADA if they so severely impair the neurological, respiratory or other functions of an individual that it substantially limits one or more of the individual’s major life activities.” Although they have not yet ruled on it they did create recommendations including “that a project be organized to develop guidelines for the design of an “ideal space” for people with MCS and EMS”   Dr. Ann Lee, former physician at the Stanford Traumatic Brain Tumor Unit, and her son testify in Sacramento, California about her son’s electrosensitivity  with heart palpitations in the presence of Wi Fi routers and Antenna.

A pilot study by the Weston Price Foundation in 2015 looked at the effects of cell phone radiation using live blood analysis under the microscope of  healthy young volunteers on a whole food Weston A Price Foundation diet, “WAPF ” diet, versus  controls. In both groups they observed abnormal red blood cell aggregation during and after short term cell phone use.

See also

Published Papers

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