A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields

Exposure to anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially those of wireless communications (WC) has increased tremendously. This is an unprecedented phenomenon throughout biological evolution because, all anthropogenic EMFs, being fully polarized, coherent, and, especially WC EMFs, highly...

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Main Authors: Dimitris J. Panagopoulos, Igor Yakymenko, Geoffry N. De Iuliis, George P. Chrousos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1585441/full
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author Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
Igor Yakymenko
Geoffry N. De Iuliis
George P. Chrousos
George P. Chrousos
author_facet Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
Igor Yakymenko
Geoffry N. De Iuliis
George P. Chrousos
George P. Chrousos
author_sort Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
collection DOAJ
description Exposure to anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially those of wireless communications (WC) has increased tremendously. This is an unprecedented phenomenon throughout biological evolution because, all anthropogenic EMFs, being fully polarized, coherent, and, especially WC EMFs, highly variable, differ substantially from the natural EMFs. WC EMFs consist of Microwave (MW) carrier waves, modulated, by Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) signals, and included in on/off pulses repeated at various ELF rates. Moreover, they exhibit intense random variability, mainly in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) band. Thus, WC EMFs are a combination of MW and ELF/ULF EMFs. The combination of polarization/coherence and intense low-frequency (ELF/ULF) variability seems to be the key to EMF-bioactivity. Epidemiological and laboratory studies highlight a connection between ELF or WC EMF exposure and cancer, infertility, electro-hypersensitivity, and various other pathologies. Studies also find DNA damage and Oxidative Stress (OS) which explain these pathologies. While man-made EMFs cannot directly ionize molecules, they are capable of doing this indirectly in biological tissue, by triggering the biosynthesis of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which can damage biomolecules, including DNA. The (over)production of ROS and the consequent OS are triggered by irregular gating of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels (VGICs) in the cell membranes as described by the Ion Forced Oscillation (IFO)-VGIC mechanism: Mobile ions within VGICs forced to oscillate by the applied ELF/ULF EMFs exert forces on the voltage sensors of the VGICs, similar to or greater than the forces that physiologically gate those channels, resulting in their irregular gating (dysfunction). Dysfunction of ion channels disrupts intracellular ionic concentrations. This triggers ROS overproduction and OS by the ROS-generating systems/enzymes in the cells, such as the electron transport chain (ETC) in the mitochondria, or the NADPH/NADH oxidases (NOXs), the Nitric Oxide synthases (NOS), etc. The IFO-VGIC mechanism and the consequent OS constitute a comprehensive mechanism that explains all known adverse biological and health effects reported to be induced by anthropogenic EMFs.
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spelling doaj-art-e573756bbd614fd0bd62f72691affd8a2025-08-20T02:03:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15854411585441A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fieldsDimitris J. Panagopoulos0Dimitris J. Panagopoulos1Igor Yakymenko2Geoffry N. De Iuliis3George P. Chrousos4George P. Chrousos5Choremeion Research Laboratory, 1st Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceElectromagnetic Field-Biophysics Research Laboratory, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Ecology and Ecomanagement, National University of Food Technologies, Kyiv, UkraineReproductive Science Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, AustraliaChoremeion Research Laboratory, 1st Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceUniversity Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, GreeceExposure to anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially those of wireless communications (WC) has increased tremendously. This is an unprecedented phenomenon throughout biological evolution because, all anthropogenic EMFs, being fully polarized, coherent, and, especially WC EMFs, highly variable, differ substantially from the natural EMFs. WC EMFs consist of Microwave (MW) carrier waves, modulated, by Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) signals, and included in on/off pulses repeated at various ELF rates. Moreover, they exhibit intense random variability, mainly in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) band. Thus, WC EMFs are a combination of MW and ELF/ULF EMFs. The combination of polarization/coherence and intense low-frequency (ELF/ULF) variability seems to be the key to EMF-bioactivity. Epidemiological and laboratory studies highlight a connection between ELF or WC EMF exposure and cancer, infertility, electro-hypersensitivity, and various other pathologies. Studies also find DNA damage and Oxidative Stress (OS) which explain these pathologies. While man-made EMFs cannot directly ionize molecules, they are capable of doing this indirectly in biological tissue, by triggering the biosynthesis of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which can damage biomolecules, including DNA. The (over)production of ROS and the consequent OS are triggered by irregular gating of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels (VGICs) in the cell membranes as described by the Ion Forced Oscillation (IFO)-VGIC mechanism: Mobile ions within VGICs forced to oscillate by the applied ELF/ULF EMFs exert forces on the voltage sensors of the VGICs, similar to or greater than the forces that physiologically gate those channels, resulting in their irregular gating (dysfunction). Dysfunction of ion channels disrupts intracellular ionic concentrations. This triggers ROS overproduction and OS by the ROS-generating systems/enzymes in the cells, such as the electron transport chain (ETC) in the mitochondria, or the NADPH/NADH oxidases (NOXs), the Nitric Oxide synthases (NOS), etc. The IFO-VGIC mechanism and the consequent OS constitute a comprehensive mechanism that explains all known adverse biological and health effects reported to be induced by anthropogenic EMFs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1585441/fullelectromagnetic fieldsvoltage-gated ion channelsoxidative stression forced oscillationIFO-VGIC mechanismROS
spellingShingle Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
Dimitris J. Panagopoulos
Igor Yakymenko
Geoffry N. De Iuliis
George P. Chrousos
George P. Chrousos
A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
Frontiers in Public Health
electromagnetic fields
voltage-gated ion channels
oxidative stress
ion forced oscillation
IFO-VGIC mechanism
ROS
title A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
title_full A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
title_fullStr A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
title_full_unstemmed A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
title_short A comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
title_sort comprehensive mechanism of biological and health effects of anthropogenic extremely low frequency and wireless communication electromagnetic fields
topic electromagnetic fields
voltage-gated ion channels
oxidative stress
ion forced oscillation
IFO-VGIC mechanism
ROS
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1585441/full
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