Reproduction & pregnancy

https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/1/71 "Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to 50-Hz and 3 mT Electromagnetic Field on Rat Testicular Development" "Abstract Background and objectives: It has been shown that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have negative effects on the reproductive system. The biological effects of EMF on the male reproductive system are controversial and vary depending on the frequency and exposure time. Although a limited number of studies have focused on the structural and functional effects of EMF, the effects of prenatal and postnatal EMF exposure on testes are not clear. We aimed to investigate the effects of 50-Hz, 3-mT EMF exposure (5 days/wk, 4 h/day) during pre- and postnatal periods on testis development. Materials and Methods: Pups from three groups of Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats were used: Sham, EMF-28 (EMF-exposure applied during pregnancy and until postnatal day 28), EMF-42 (EMF-exposure applied during pregnancy and until postnatal day 42). The testis tissues and blood samples of male offspring were collected on the postnatal day 42. Results: Morphometric analyses showed a decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter as a result of testicular degeneration in the EMF-42 group. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were decreased in the EMF-42 group. Lipid peroxidation levels were increased in both EMF groups, while antioxidant levels were decreased only in the EMF-28 group. We found decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) in the EMF-42 group, and decreased levels of the SRC homology 3 (SH3) and multiple ankyrin repeat domain (SHANK3) in the EMF-28 group in the testis tissue. Conclusions: EMF exposure during pre- and postnatal periods may cause deterioration in the structure and function of testis and decrease in growing factors that would affect testicular functions in male rat pups. In addition to the oxidative stress observed in testis, decreased SHANK3, VEGF, and IGF1 protein levels suggests that these proteins may be mediators in testis affected by EMF exposure. This study shows that EMF exposure during embryonic development and adolescence can cause apoptosis and structural changes in the testis"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28458069/ "Postnatal development and behavior effects of in-utero exposure of rats to radiofrequency waves emitted from conventional WiFi devices" "Abstract The present work investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to radiofrequency waves of conventional WiFi devices on postnatal development and behavior of rat offspring. Ten Wistar albino pregnant rats were randomly assigned to two groups (n=5). The experimental group was exposed to a 2.45GHz WiFi signal for 2h a day throughout gestation period. Control females were subjected to the same conditions as treated group without applying WiFi radiations. After delivery, the offspring was tested for physical and neurodevelopment during its 17 postnatal days (PND), then for anxiety (PND 28) and motricity (PND 40-43), as well as for cerebral oxidative stress response and cholinesterase activity in brain and serum (PND 28 and 43). Our main results showed that the in-utero WiFi exposure impaired offspring neurodevelopment during the first seventeen postnatal days without altering emotional and motor behavior at adult age. Besides, prenatal WiFi exposure induced cerebral oxidative stress imbalance (increase in malondialdehyde level (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and decrease in catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities) at 28 but not 43days old, also the exposure affected acethylcolinesterase activity at both cerebral and seric levels. Thus, the current study revealed that maternal exposure to WiFi radiofrequencies led to various adverse neurological effects in the offspring by affecting neurodevelopment, cerebral stress equilibrium and cholinesterase activity"

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15513815.2019.1692112 "Does Exposure of Smart Phones during Pregnancy Affect the Offspring’s Ovarian Reserve? A Rat Model Study" "Abstract We investigated the effect of prenatal exposure to smart phone radiation and the protective effect of omega-3 on ovarian reserve of offspring. Methods: 24 pregnant Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Group-I received neither radiofrequency (RF) radiation nor omega-3, group-II received RF, group-III received RF radiation and 300 mg omega-3 and group-IV received RF radiation and 600 mg Omega-3 till birth. At 42 days, bilateral oophorectomy was performed on all female offspring for follicle count and immunohistochemical staining (GDF9, FOXO1 and TUNEL). Results: Group-II had significantly lower mean number of primordial (p = 0.006), secondary follicles(p = 0.003) and a higher atresia score. Group-III variables were comparable with group-I variables. Group-IV had statistically higher median number of atretic follicles than group-I (p = 0.023). Conclusions: Ovarian reserve of offspring diminished with RF exposure during pregnancy. Omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the potential premature ovarian failure."

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3406339/ "A Prospective Study of In-utero Exposure to Magnetic Fields and the Risk of Childhood Obesity" "Abstract We conducted a prospective study to examine whether in-utero exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) increases the risk of childhood obesity. Participating women carried a meter measuring MF levels during pregnancy and 733 of their children were followed up to 13 years to collect clinically recorded information on growth patterns with 33 weight measurements per child on average. Prenatal exposure to high MF level was associated with increased risk of being obese in offspring than those with lower MF level (odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–2.84). The association demonstrated a dose-response relationship and was stronger (more than 2.3 fold increased risk) among children who were followed up to the end of the study. The association existed only for persistent obesity, but not for transitory (unlikely) obesity. Maternal exposure to high MF during pregnancy may be a new and previously unknown factor contributing to the world-wide epidemic of childhood obesity/overweight."

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13102818.2022.2046505?scroll=top&needAccess=true#abstract "Radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from wireless devices increases rapidly and the most sensitive groups are pregnant women and children. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the fidgety movements (FMs) and motor repertoires of the infants of pregnant women with different durations of mobile phone usage (DOMFU) in the prenatal period by performing a general movement assessment (GMA) using the Prechtl method. Infants suitable for the study were divided into 4 groups according to their mothers’ duration of mobile phone usage during pregnancy, comprising those who did not talk on a mobile phone (Control Group, n: 31), those with mobile phone usage (MFU) of ∼20 min a day (Group 1, n: 33), those with MFU of ∼40 min a day (Group 2, n: 31), and those with MFU of ∼2 h a day (Group 3, n: 28). The analysis showed that the abnormal fidgety (AF) and absent fidgety (F–), suboptimal motor optimality score (MOS) and reduced motor repertoire were statistically higher in Group 3 compared to the other groups. Normal posture and the quality of other movements were statistically higher in the Control, and Groups 1 and 2 compared to Group 3. According to the findings, infants of mothers with different DOMFU during pregnancy differed with regard to the quality of FMs, MOS, repertoire, posture and other movements. In conclusion, the findings suggested that there may be a relationship between prenatal RFR exposure and motor development in infants. More long-term studies are needed to determine whether these changes are temporary or permanent"

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5506372/pdf/nihms866566.pdf "Methods—We used individual participant data from 83,884 mother-child pairs in the five cohorts from Denmark (1996–2002), Korea (2006–2011), the Netherlands (2003–2004), Norway (2004– 2008), and Spain (2003–2008). We categorized cell phone use into none, low, medium, and high, based on frequency of calls during pregnancy reported by the mothers. Child behavioral problems (reported by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or Child Behavior Checklist) were classified in the borderline/clinical and clinical ranges using validated cut-offs in children aged 5–7 years. Cohort specific risk estimates were meta-analyzed. Results—Overall, 38.8% of mothers, mostly from the Danish cohort, reported no cell phone use during pregnancy and these mothers were less likely to have a child with overall behavioral, hyperactivity/inattention or emotional problems. Evidence for a trend of increasing risk of child behavioral problems through the maternal cell phone use categories was observed for hyperactivity/inattention problems (OR for problems in the clinical range: 1.11, 95%CI 1.01, 1.22; 1.28, 95%CI 1.12, 1.48, among children of medium and high users, respectively). This association was fairly consistent across cohorts and between cohorts with retrospectively and prospectively collected cell phone use data. Conclusions—Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for behavioral problems, particularly hyperactivity/inattention problems, in the offspring. The interpretation of these results is unclear as uncontrolled confounding may influence both maternal cell phone use and child behavioral problems."

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1107612 "Maternal Exposure to Magnetic Fields During Pregnancy in Relation to the Risk of Asthma in Offspring" "Results After adjustment for potential confounders, a statistically significant linear dose-response relationship was observed between increasing maternal median daily MF exposure level in pregnancy and an increased risk of asthma in offspring: every 1-mG increase of maternal MF level during pregnancy was associated with a 15% increased rate of asthma in offspring (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.27). Using the categorical MF level, the results showed a similar dose-response relationship: compared with the children whose mothers had a low MF level (median 24-hour MF level, ≤0.3 mG) during pregnancy, children whose mothers had a high MF level (>2.0 mG) had more than a 3.5-fold increased rate of asthma (aHR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.68-7.35), while children whose mothers had a medium MF level (>0.3-2.0 mG) had a 74% increased rate of asthma (aHR, 1.74; 95% CI, 0.93-3.25). A statistically significant synergistic interaction was observed between the MF effect and a maternal history of asthma and birth order (firstborn). Conclusion Our findings provide new epidemiological evidence that high maternal MF levels in pregnancy may increase the risk of asthma in offspring. Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children. Approximately 13% of children younger than 18 years (9.4 million children in the United States) have asthma.1 Based on reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma is a leading cause of hospitalization and emergency department visits for children younger than 18 years in the United States, with staggering annual costs of more than $30 billion (http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/asthma).1 The prevalence of asthma has been steadily rising during the last several decades, with an increase of about 74% from 1980 to 1996. While not ruling out genetic susceptibility, such a secular increase indicates the presence of important environmental risk factors that remain elusive. Environmental exposures during pregnancy could affect fetal development of the immune system and lungs and thus have an impact on the risk of asthma in offspring.2-5 Among the limited research, chemical exposures have represented much of the focus, while the potential of environmental physical exposures has rarely been examined. One such physical exposure is increasing man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs). In addition to traditional low-frequency EMFs from power lines and appliances, the buildup of increasingly stronger wireless networks both inside and outside living and work spaces and the proliferation of cell phones and other wireless devices have led to human populations being surrounded by EMFs of increasing intensity. This parallel increase in both EMF exposure and asthma prevalence in the past several decades warrants examination. Studies have shown that EMFs could adversely affect reproductive outcomes and the immune system.6-15 A recent study also showed an EMF effect on brain cell activities.16,17 Therefore, it is conceivable that exposure to high EMFs, especially during pregnancy (the period of fetal development), may have an impact on the risk of asthma in offspring. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a prospective study based on a cohort of pregnant women whose daily exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) was captured objectively by a meter during their pregnancy and whose offspring from the index pregnancy were followed up for as long as 13 years for their asthma diagnosis."

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247%2825%2901009-5 This study mentions autism like behaviour in animals exposed to EMF. And that ASD associated gene expression in cortical neurons and dendritic spine density seems to increase with RF exposure. Suggesting a link between autism development and RF exposure. "...No major neurodevelopmental defect has been linked with RF exposure, mainly due to its relatively weak energy compared with X-rays or gamma rays.40 However, emerging evidence suggests that prolonged RF exposure may have subtle neurodevelopmental implications. Recent studies in animal models exposed chronically to RF have shown autism-like behaviors, raising concerns about the impact of RF on neurodevelopment.41 For instance, behavioral changes such as hyperactivity and cognitive deficits observed in animal models highlight the need for further exploration into the neurodevelopmental consequences of RF exposure in humans. Although decades’ worth of studies have reported a broad range of adverse impacts from RF on human health, RF-mediated dysregulation of human brain development has remained largely unknown. In this study, we showed the detrimental effects of RF exposure to cortical organoids.42 The perinatal period in neurogenesis encloses a distinctive window embodying diverse molecular and cellular processes required for proper development.5 Though prenatal brain development comprises high plasticity, it is vulnerable to internal and external perturbations. Thus, environmental insults, including chemicals, drugs, pollution, stress, and even prolonged ultrasound wave exposure, can permanently impact brain development and subsequent behavior.43,44 Our findings revealed that RF-exposed cortical neurons exhibited increases in ASD-associated gene expression and dendritic spine density, characteristics of patients on the autism spectrum.45 Furthermore, the parallels drawn from in utero RF exposure in animal models, which have demonstrated behavioral changes such as hyperactivity and memory deficits, underscore the relevance of our findings in a human context.41,46 These findings suggest a potential shared mechanism by which RF exposure may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders across species. Altered morphology and transcriptome driven by RF exposure in hCOs further lead to aberrant and enhanced neuron firing. In fact, in utero RF exposure in mice models results in behavioral and cognitive changes such as hyperactivity and memory deficit.41 Notably, we showed that physical barrier protection or chemical treatment could attenuate the RF-induced damage during cortical organoid development. Here, we have thoroughly examined the effects of RF exposure and demonstrated RF-induced changes associated with ASD in the transcriptomics, morphology, and function of cortical neurons. This addition to the literature is particularly significant given that most studies have historically focused on genetic causes of ASD, while environmental factors, particularly RF exposure, have been understudied. By utilizing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hCOs, our research offers insights that bridge the gap between animal models and human neurodevelopment. The use of human organoids enables us to detail the specific impacts of RF exposure on human neuronal cells, which may differ from findings observed in animal models. Our findings also point to the potential involvement of BET proteins in the regulation of neurodevelopmental pathways affected by RF treatment. We propose that BET proteins may be altered in RF-treated hCOs, similar to how they are affected in Rett syndrome model organoids with MeCP2 mutations.29 It remains to be determined whether BET proteins are significantly downregulated in RF-treated organoids. If so, the inhibition of BET proteins could serve as a therapeutic strategy to rescue delayed differentiation in these organoids. This interaction raises the question of whether RF exposure and BET regulation function in an epistatic relationship or operate independently"

On behalf of the EFEIA Institute (Miami, Florida), I submit our organization's attached public comment, evidence summary and supporting proposal in response to HHS Request for Information, Docket No. HHS-OASH-2026-0397. This comment represents the perspective of a research entity. The attachments are an evidence summary and a national plan proposal, both prepared by EFEIA in October 2026. Disclosure: the undersigned is also founder and CTO of NOXTAK Corporation, which develops SPIRO electromagnetic-hygiene products; one source both documents cite evaluates SPIRO in two vehicles, and the 180 cases they describe were received by NOXTAK. A modern vehicle places traction batteries and power electronics alongside cellular modems, onboard hotspots, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ultra-wideband access systems, V2X equipment and radar, including interior radar in the 57 to 64 GHz band for child presence detection and road radar at 76 to 81 GHz, in a small occupied cabin used for repeated daily journeys by children, pregnant women, older adults, professional drivers and people with implanted devices. U.S. drivers spend about an hour a day at the wheel. National campaigns in Germany and Switzerland found low average fields with brief magnetic-field peaks, highest at the feet; in the German federal campaign, the reference values of the 1999 EU Council Recommendation were exceeded locally or briefly in all vehicles but one, while basic restrictions were never exceeded. Existing methods cover parts of this picture: IEC 62764-1 measures low-frequency magnetic fields from 1 Hz to 100 kHz and excludes intentionally transmitting antennas, UN Regulation No. 10 addresses electromagnetic compatibility, and FCC rules address RF exposure from mobile and portable devices and provide for multiple sources. No method yet connects the full installed source inventory, the occupied cabin, and the fields and absorbed energy in each occupant. The 2023 study funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy acknowledged temporal and spatial gaps that could have missed short events or the highest field values, and EFEIA's own study of two Tesla Model Y vehicles used instruments limited to frequencies below 6 GHz, which cannot capture 60 GHz or 76 to 81 GHz systems. NOXTAK has received 180 cases of people who attribute symptoms to electric vehicle use and sought help; both documents treat this as an author-reported case count, not a prevalence estimate, and propose a registry and clinical pathway to examine it. We urge HHS to support a coordinated 24-month national program with independent laboratory participation and an independent scientific steering process: a reproducible whole-cabin measurement protocol covering every installed band; a version-controlled library of real driving, charging and connectivity scenarios; a validated occupant dosimetry atlas with child, pregnant and adult anatomical models; a consented symptom registry and staged clinical research below established thermal thresholds; a technology-neutral method for evaluating mitigation claims; and recommendations for a whole-vehicle evidence requirement with change control and a complaint reporting channel. HHS and its research agencies would guide the health evidence, with DOT and NHTSA on vehicle integration and transportation safety, the FCC on RF equipment and exposure requirements, and NIST, universities and independent laboratories on measurement traceability. This comment responds to questions 4(k), 4(l), 4(m), 5(n), 5(o), 5(p), 7, 8, 9, 10(a), 10(f), 11(a) to 11(f), 12, 13(i), 16, 17 and 18. The attachments are the Additional 4 summary and the national plan that corresponds to it: - Additional 4 summary: Modern Vehicles as Occupied Electromagnetic Environments: Measuring What Reaches the Person in the Seat (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23541753). - Additional 4, National Plan: National Plan for Electromagnetic Biocompatibility in Modern Vehicles: A proposal for whole-vehicle exposure assessment, occupant dosimetry and regulatory development (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23541733). Please accept and consider all attached documents, the Additional 4 summary and the National Plan, as part of the public record. Respectfully, J. Joaquín Machado EMR Researcher and Director of the EFEIA Institute

I had the experience of fighting the placement of a cellular tower within 250 feet of my home. It only took me about 10 minutes of research to see that the guidelines that are in place by the FCC from 1996 are extremely outdated and puts the health of the citizens at risk. You are not allowed to challenge the placement for any health reasons based on one study done in 1996. While counties like Russia and China who are not known for human rights have stricter setbacks that we do here in the US. That is appalling. That would be like thinking the Microsoft 96 would work for the technology of 2026 computers. Let alone think of the medical advances that have taken place during the last 20 years. Yet we as citizens have to adhere to this one study from 1996 that states it is safe for a cellular tower to be next to your home. I realize that cellular technology is here to stay. However, we can do it responsibly and protect our citizens at the same time. New Hampshire did a study on potential health concerns with cellular towers, and it clearly shows a link which should at the minimum be enough to change the outdated guidelines from the FCC. The FCC shouldn't even be able to have such a guideline because they do not regulate health. They are a commission of businesspeople who are only looking out for profits. The fact that there are so many hoops that the citizens have to jump through just to keep their home safe is ridiculous. The technology of today is not that of 1996. The number of wireless items that are everywhere should cause our government to reevaluate many things in regard to health and safety. Infertility and autism are on the rise here. Has anyone thought of that potential connection. In countries that have done the research, the guidelines are much stricter due to the correlation of health issues. It not only affects people, but it also affects animals and plants. These are all things that should concern everyone. I