The Science of Radiofrequency Energy
Radiofrequencies (RF), also called radio waves, are a form of energy, like the light you see all around you. They are used to carry broadcast radio and television signals, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, and signals from baby monitors, remote controls, garage door openers and many other everyday items.
The general public has been surrounded by sources of RF energy such as this for more than 100 years, since the introduction of radio broadcasting. The current consensus of scientific opinion has not changed—there are no known health risks from RF energy at the low levels approved for everyday consumer use.
That is because RF is a low-frequency form of energy, meaning that it is not powerful enough to cause damage to your cells. In fact, the light you see around you every day operates at a much higher energy and frequency than wireless signals, much closer to high-frequency signals that could cause damage, such as X-rays or Gamma Rays.
How the Science Is Evaluated
Radiofrequencies have been studied extensively and their scientific properties are well understood. The evidence consists of thousands of peer-reviewed studies conducted over 70 years.
While there are always new studies emerging that contribute to understanding of RF, as researchers at the University of Oxford explain, “individual studies cannot be relied upon (Schoenfeld & Ioannidis, 2013).”
Scientific literature reviews are key to assessing scientific studies wholistically and within context. A scientific literature review evaluates studies, articles, and books available on a specific topic, identifying any issues with methodology and gaps in the body of research.
Examples of Literature Reviews
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Review of Published Literature between 2008 and 2018 of Relevance to Radiation and Cancer, (Published February 2020): The FDA looked at peer-reviewed in vivo (animal) and epidemiological studies that were published over the 2008 to 2018 decade. The report concluded that “[b]ased on the FDA’s ongoing evaluation, the available epidemiological and cancer incidence data continues to support the Agency’s determination that there are no quantifiable adverse health effects in humans caused by exposures at or under the current cell phone exposure limits.”
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre Technical Report on Electromagnetic Emissions from Mobile Networks and Potential Effect on Health – Preliminary Study, (Published June 2021): The JRC looked at studies that primarily came out in the five years prior to publication looking at a variety of human health considerations. The JRC reported that their literature review “does not report a significant correlation among the emergence of cancers and the mobile communications.”
Spain’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Radiofrequencies and Health (CCARS) Report on Radiofrequencies and Health (2020-2022), (Published March 2024): This is CCARS seventh report on radiofrequencies and health and is focused on scientific outputs from 2020-2022. “This review has sought to consolidate the current scientific evidence on the relationship between RF-EMF and health, specifically addressing topics such as cancer, other health effects, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, and guidelines from national and international official bodies. To provide a clear and up-to-date overview, both recent research and previous findings have been considered, with particular emphasis on the rigor and objectivity of the sources consulted. Thus the current, scientific evidence suggests that, within established exposure limits, RF-EMF does not present a significant risk to human health.” (Translated from Spanish).
World Health Organization Commissioned Report: The Effect of Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields on Cancer Risk in the General and Working Population: A Systematic Review of Human Observational Studies – Part I: Most Researched Outcomes, (Published September 2024): WHO commissioned a review (2024) where experts from nine countries analyzed 63 studies on cellphones and cancer dating from 1994 through 2022. The researchers found no connection between cellphone use and brain cancer. On children’s health, the review specifically found that “exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations) was not associated with childhood leukaemia or paediatric brain tumour risks, independently of the level of the modelled RF exposure.”
WBF Expert Forum 2024’s Consensus Decision, (Published November 2024): Austria’s WBF Expert Forum regularly reviews the science on RF. The 2024 Forum based their findings on 161 papers published between July 2023 to July 2024, as well as ~3000 studies reviewed previously. “Publications from the past year (provided existing limits are observed) have not revealed any new epidemiologically sound evidence of health problems associated with mobile communications. Recent analyses from long-term studies show no link to the development of cancer.” (Translated from German).
Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s Umbrella Review of Low-Level Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz-300 GHz) and Health Effects, (Published January 2026): The Norwegian Institute of Public Health conducted a scientific literature review to “assess whether electromagnetic fields can give rise to adverse health effects such as cancer, reduced fertility, or pain or discomfort.” NIPH’s Director of the Department of Chemical Toxicology, Ragnar Hovland, reports, “An overall assessment of the evidence shows that there are no health effects from electromagnetic fields for users of mobile phones and other wireless communication technologies.”
Recent Research on Electromagnetic Fields and Health Risk, Twentieth Report from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority’s (SSM) Scientific Council on Electromagnetic Fields, (Published February 2026): The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority’s (SSM) Scientific Council on Electromagnetic Fields produces an annual update on current research on radiofrequency energy and health that all members of the Council agree to. The 20th Report looks at new studies published between January 2024 and December 2024 and finds “no new established causal relationships between EMF exposure and health risk have been identified.”
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Radiation Literature Study, (Ongoing). ARPANSA reviews literature on radiation on an ongoing basis on their website and provides their opinion on the latest studies, reports, and more.