News
Presentation "Human exposure to magnetic fields from electromobility"
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Gernot Schmid of Seibersdorf Laboratories will give a public online lecture at the BfS Colloquium on the topic of "Human Exposure to Magnetic Fields from Electromobility" (in German). The study was conducted by a project team of Seibersdorf Labor GmbH, the Research Center for Environmental Electromagnetic Compatibility (femu) at RWTH Aachen University Hospital, and the ADAC e.V. Technology Center.
For more details, please see the BfS homepage (in German only).
Research funding
The FSM is awarding CHF 150,000 in 2025 for a research project investigating exposure to high-frequency electro-magnetic fields from new satellite communication applications (such as Starlink, OneWeb, Kuiper). Interested researchers are invited to submit a pre-proposal by June 30, 2025.
For more details, please see the FSM homepage.
On our own behalf: restrictions on content
Unfortunately, we have to stop including articles on the following topics:
- transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, iTBS, rTMS, etc.)
- transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
- other therapeutic applications of electric current (TENS, DBS, etc.)
Rationale: The number of publications that are considered relevant for inclusion in the EMF-Portal has increased significantly in recent years and especially in 2024 (see figure). An analysis of the newly included articles published in 2024 (approx. 3700) revealed that approx. 1500 of these were articles on TMS, tDCS, or other therapeutic applications of electric current. This concerns clinical studies, but also, to a large extent, reviews and technical/dosimetric articles.
As financial support for the EMF-Portal has, unfortunately, decreased significantly in recent years, we have had to make these restrictions on content.
We regret this step and hope for your understanding. If you would like to support the EMF-Portal, we would be delighted to receive your donation. IMPORTANT: Please specify the purpose of the transfer (reference).
femu is looking for a scientist (biology, epidemiology, medicine)
femu is looking for a scientist in the field of biology, epidemiology, or medicine with immediate effect. Please have a look at our job advertisement (in German). We are looking forward to your application.
Dr. Sarah Drießen appointed to committee of the German Commission on Radiological Protection
At the beginning of 2025, Dr. Sarah Drießen of the Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu) of University Hospital RWTH Aachen (provider of EMF-Portal) was appointed to the committee on “Non Ionizing Radiation” of The German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK). The committee evaluates health effects of non-ionizing radiation and and is tasked with advising the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).
Please find more information on the SSK homepage.
BioEM 2025 - Call for abstracts
BioEM 2025, the international conference on bioelectromagnetics, will take place in Rennes, France, June 22-27, 2025.
The call for abstracts for platform presentations and poster sessions has started 2nd of January and the deadline is extended until 14th of February.
Please find more information on the BioEM 2025 homepage.
BioEM - Call for Short Term Mission
The international Society on Bioelectromagnetics (BioEM) announces the open call for Short Term Mission of Students or Early Stage Researchers (STM) for low-middle income countries and high income countries. Application opens on 10th September 2024 and ends on 1st November 2024.
Please find more information on the application procedure on the BioEM Website.
Database maintenance
On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, between 8 AM and 11:30 AM CEST the IT Center of the RWTH Aachen will carry out maintenance work on our database. During this time, the EMF-Portal will be unavailable. We kindly ask for your understanding for this measure.
Bioelectromagnetics: Special Issue on "Experimental and numerical dosimetry for 5G and 6G"
The journal Bioelectromagnetics announces a call for the Special Issue on "Experimental and numerical dosimetry for 5G and 6G".
Fifth generation (5G) and future sixth generation (6G) communication networks will apply current technological trends by utilizing new millimeter wave bands. It is expected that exposure to electromagnetic fields from 5G and 6G wireless communication sources will cause concern amongst public and health authorities about their safety, since they implement new and emerging technologies. Novel numerical/experimental assessment exposure and dosimetry studies are, therefore, needed to provide in-depth knowledge of realistic exposure scenarios to 5G and 6G systems/technologies, e.g., those of beamforming techniques and Advanced Antenna Systems (AAS). Please find more information on the journal website.
Submission deadline is Monday, 30 September 2024.
Erice course "Advances in Electroporation-Based Therapy"
The 11th Course of the International School of Bioelectromagnetism “A. Chiabrera” will be held from May 2 to May 7, 2025 in Erice, Italy. The Course entitled "Advances in Electroporation-Based Therapy: from Principles to Clinical Applications" has been organized in collaboration with the BioEM Society. The goal of the course is to explore electroporation-based treatments, understanding key physical principles and recent clinical advances. Attendances will learn the crucial role of electric fields and the importance of treatment planning across various therapies. The course is aimed at researchers and medical professionals.
Please find more information on the school website.
IARC advised to revisit radiofrequency cancer risk
An Advisory Group has recommended that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) should reassess the cancer risks associated with non-ionizing radiofrequency radiation with high priority. According to the summary issued last week in The Lancet Oncology, the group suggests that the new evaluation should take place in latter half of 5-year period (2025–2029) due to new human cancer and animal cancer evidence to warrant re-evaluation of the classification. Besides radiofrequency fields, several other agents were recommended for revisit, e.g., hair coloring products, acrylamide or paracetamol.
A detailed report of the advisory committee will be published subsequently.
Research funding
The Swiss Research Foundation for Electricity and Mobile Communication (FSM) is awarding CHF 150,000 in 2024 for a research project dealing with exposure to radiofrequency EMF or biological effects of mobile radio on humans, fauna and/or flora. Interested researchers are invited to submit a pre-proposal by June 30, 2024.
For more details, please see the FSM homepage.
Webinar of the SEAWAVE project
The European SEAWAVE project aims to assess risks but also to characterize exposures and their evolutions with the deployment of new technologies as 5G.
The webinar on the SEAWAVE project held on the 15th of January 2024 will be an opportunity to learn about the recent results of the SEAWAVE project on exposure assessments and their analysis. The seminar will focus first on exposures induced by base station antennas. Various presentations will discuss and analyze frequency-selective measurements carried out in Europe, not only via spot measurement outside or inside buildings, but also while walking in commercial areas and in public places, during car journeys or on public transportation.
Participation in this webinar is free but requires prior registration. More information about the webinar and the way to participate, you can find here.
ICNIRP Commission 2024-2028
Every four years the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) elects its Commission members. Following a call for nominations extended to the IRPA national Societies, the IRPA Executive Council, and to national public radiation protection authorities and international radiation protection organizations (see news article from 7 August 2023), the election took place at the ICNIRP Annual General Meeting, 20-22 November 2023, Basel, Switzerland.
The ICNIRP Commission 2024-2028 as of July 2024 will be composed of the following scientists: Akimasa Hirata (Chair), Ken Karipidis (Vice-Chair), Young Hwan Ahn, Nigel Cridland, Frank de Vocht, Anke Huss, Ilko Ilev, Jens Kuhne, Ilkka Laakso, Isabelle Lagroye, Alberto Modenese and Gunnhild Oftedal.
For more information please see the ICNIRP homepage.
BioEM 2024 - Call for abstracts
BioEM 2024, the international conference on bioelectromagnetics, will be held in Chania, Crete, Greece, June 16-21, 2024.
The call for abstracts for platform presentations and poster sessions has started now.
Please find more information on the BioEM 2024 homepage.
SCHEER - Public consultation on potential health effects of exposure to low frequencies
Following a request from the European Commission, the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) adopted the Preliminary Opinion on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) - Update with regard to frequencies between 1Hz and 100 kHz.
This Opinion is now open for public consultation to get feedback from the scientific community and stakeholders. Interested stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on the scientific evidence online until 2nd January 2024.
For more details, please see the SCHEER website.
Erice course EMF and health
The 10th Course of the International School of Bioelectromagnetism “A. Chiabrera” will be held from April 6 to 12, 2024 in Erice, Italy. The Course, entitled “Electromagnetic fields and health – epidemiological approaches”, has been organized in collaboration with the BioEM Society and initiated as part of the collaboration with the European Cluster on EMF and Health (CLUE-H). It is focused on key aspects on this topic, such as exposure assessment and potential health effects, including exposure misclassification, biological interaction and mechanisms, risk perception, planetary health, evidence synthesis and guideline development.
Please find more information on the school website.
femu publication about human perception of electric fields
The journal Scientific Reports has published an article by femu and co-authors entitled: "The role of the DC component in human perception of AC–DC hybrid electric fields and a comparison with the AC component". The study was motivated by the newly introduced construction of both high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead power lines mounted on the same pylon. The study is based on the previous publications of the femu (Jankowiak et al. 2021 and Kursawe et al. 2021) and expands the previous publication of Jankowiak et al. 2022.
The aim was to examine the role of the DC component in human perception of AC–DC hybrid electric field. Therefore, 49 participants with high detection ability were investigated using a design that combines small variations of the DC component with different AC electric fields.
The article can be found in the EMF-Portal, in Pubmed and on the Homepage of Scientific Reports (open access).
Protection from mobile phone radiation: opening of a counselling centre in Switzerland
On behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) in Switzerland, the Institute of Family Medicine of the University of Fribourg has developed the Swiss medical counselling network for non-ionising radiation (MedNIS). The aim of the network is to provide better medical advice for people suffering from complaints that they attribute to non-ionizing radiation from electricity and radio applications in everyday life. In consultation with their family doctor, electrosensitive people can now take advantage of counselling by specially trained specialists.
Further information can be found on the MedNIS website (in German, French and Italian).
ICNIRP Commission Elections
The call for nominations for the membership in the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for the term of office 2024-2028 is now open until 25 September 2023.
Please find more information on the nomination procedure on the ICNIRP website.
Meeting on the International Systems of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
WHO organized a joint meeting with ICNIRP, ICRP, ILO and IRPA in Munich, Germany, from 26 to 28 June 2023. The objectives were to increase mutual understanding of the approaches and systems of radiation protection, and to explore possibilities for continued collaboration.
For more details, please see the websites of WHO and ICNIRP.
BioEM - Call for abstracts for Short Term Mission
The international Society on Bioelectromagnetics (BioEM) announces the open call for Short Term Mission of Students or Early Stage Researchers (STM) for low-middle income countries and high income countries. Application opens on 15th September 2023 and ends on 31st October 2023.
Please find more information on the application procedure on the BioEM website
Research funding
The Swiss Research Foundation for Electricity and Mobile Communication (FSM) will award, in 2023, a total amount of CHF 100,000 for research projects related to questions of acceptance of infrastructures in the field of electricity and mobile communications. Interested researchers are invited to submit a pre-proposal by August 11, 2023.
For more details, please see the FSM-Homepage.
WHO has published the members list of the Task Group on RF and Health Risks
The names and brief biographies of individuals being considered for participation in a WHO-convened Guideline Development Group are disclosed for public notice and comment.
Please find further information on the WHO Homepage.
BioEM 2023 - Call for abstracts
BioEM 2023, the international conference on bioelectromagnetics, will be held in Oxford, United Kingdom, June 18-23, 2023.
The call for abstracts for platform presentations and poster sessions has started now.
Find more information on the BioEM 2023 homepage.
