RF- EMR – Effects on human and environmental health

In today's world, development in technology has brought social and economic benefits to society and technological devices play a vital role in our day-to-day life. However, with advancement in the field of electronics and communication technology, there is an increased risk of exposure to electromagnetic field and this may cause many health problems in humans as well as affecting the environment. Sources of electromagnetic waves are power transmission line, base transmitter station, mobile phones, household appliances and the waves that are emitted from these sources get absorbed in the body causing various ill-effects. Various studies have shown that radiations from mobile phone/towers increases the rate of various types of cancer among women and children. Electromagnetic radiations can also cause changes in EEG pattern, decrease in TSH, T3, T4, prolactin, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone levels. Experimental studies showed that long?term exposure to electromagnetic waves decrease sperm count and quality among men. RF- EMR can cause DNA damage, affect embryo viability and cause premature birth. In this narrative review, we focus on the available literature describing the ill-effects of various kinds of electromagnetic radiation emitting sources on multiple organs/organ systems of the human body as well as its effect on the environment from studies carried all across the world.