What about sound machines and sleep apps? Read more in EMFSA February 2026 EMF Updates

More topics:

• What is the primary signal that regulates the body’s internal clock and why does it matter?

How does this relate to signals to the brain and normal biological processes that are essential for recovery and long-term health?

• Social jetlag affects almost everyone today because artificial light allows people to extend their evenings, staying awake and active long after it’s dark outside. However, this extra evening light blurs the natural difference between day and night, shifts our internal clocks later, and makes “late sleepers” more common. As a result, many people’s biological clocks don’t match their social schedules, creating widespread social jetlag. This is why many people feel sleepy in the morning or stay up late on weekends. 

A recent study of over 3,500 adolescents found that irregular sleep schedules—sometimes called “social jet lag”—are associated with altered brain structure and connectivity.

• The European Union has restricted Chinese institutions from participating in certain Horizon Europe projects. What will the fallout be?

• Mobile radiation on green roofs 

Transitioning toward vertical urbanization

Public concerns about fairness and environmental impact.

The need for evidence-based communication strategies that clearly convey the risks and benefits of technologies like 5G.

What does a pesticide have in common with RF electromagnetic fields?

How do modern 4G & 5G systems adjust their emissions?

A study examined whether mobile phone use and proximity to base stations are associated with changes in blood parameters. What did the authors find?

A large cohort study found an association between higher residential magnetic field exposure and increased dementia mortality. Does this prove that magnetic fields cause Alzheimer’s disease?

• Are biofilms always bad?

For further exploration: https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/photobiomodulation-for-alzheimers-disease-has-the-light-dawned/

In Memoriam

It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Tracey-Lee Dorny, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was a passionate advocate for the rights of people living with Electrohypersensitivity. Her legacy will endure. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her friends and family.

Link to EMFSA February 2026 EMF Updates https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/emfsa-february-2026-newsletter

References

REM sleep: What is it, why is it important, and how can you get more of it? – Harvard Health Publishing

Pink noise reduces REM sleep and may harm sleep quality

Full study: Basner M, Smith MG, Cordoza M, et al. Efficacy of pink noise and earplugs for mitigating the effects of intermittent environmental noise exposure on sleep. Sleep, 2026;, zsag001, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsag001

Medscape, How Nighttime Light Quietly Became a Serious Health Threat (2026)

PsychPost article 
Matthew Risner, Eliot S Katz, Catherine Stamoulis, Social jet lag has detrimental effects on hallmark characteristics of adolescent brain structure, circuit organization, and intrinsic dynamics, Sleep, 2025; zsaf392. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf392

Nature: Europe bars China from Horizon research programmes
Reuters: EU moves to phase out Chinese suppliers from critical infrastructure

Virto, L. R., Saba, P., Thielens, A., Czerwiński, M., & Um, P. N. (2025). Digital Sustainability Trade-Offs: Public Perceptions of Mobile Radiation and Green Roofs. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 56, 720-762. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.05628
Read the full study here

Laldinpuii, Sailo, L., Weller, S., Varte, C. L., Tochhawng, L., Bandara, P., … Zothansiama. (2026). Effects of exposure to nearby mobile phone base stations and mobile phone usage on human blood parameters. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 1–20. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15368378.2026.2623473

Nekane Sandoval-Diez, Nicolas Loizeau, Anke Huss, Martin Röösli, Danielle Vienneau, Long-term residential magnetic field exposure and neurodegenerative disease mortality: An 18-year nationwide cohort study in Switzerland, Environment International, Volume 208, 2026, 110145, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110145.
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412026001030

Baxter, K.J., Sas, E., Clark, K.B. et al. Biofilms: from the cradle of life to life support. npj Biofilms Microbiomes 12, 11 (2026).  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-025-00875-8

Published 28th March 2026 by EMFSA

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Snippet: Researchers studied the impact of light pollution on zebrafish and discovered that blue light, like that emitted by phones and electronic devices, caused the most significant anxiety responses. After only five nights of exposure, the zebrafish began to exhibit signs of anxiety. Furthermore, the next generation of zebrafish displayed anxiety-related behaviors, indicating the potential for long-term effects across generations. Source https://earthsky.org/earth/light-pollution-fish-next-generation/

Newsletter https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/emfsa-september-2024-newsletter

The post EMFSA September 2024 Newsletter appeared first on EMFSA.

http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009994

The findings provide a mechanism that links Alzheimer’s disease with circadian rhythm disruptions

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PLOS

Researchers report that the immune cells responsible for clearing away a key protein that builds up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease operate according to daily circadian rhythms. The discovery, reported by Jennifer Hurley of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and colleagues in a new study publishing February 10^th in the journal PLOS Genetics, provides a potential explanation for the link between Alzheimer’s disease and disruptions to a person’s sleep cycle. 

Alzheimer’s disease is known to be associated with disruptions in circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycle that controls many aspects of human behavior and physiology. For example, sleep disruptions begin years before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear and are linked to more severe symptoms and a higher risk of developing the disease.

Read more at: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/942364

The post Immune cells that clear away Alzheimer’s disease protein are controlled by circadian rhythms appeared first on EMFSA.

In this Review, the authors discuss the alterations to the circadian system that occur in movement (Parkinson disease and Huntington disease) and cognitive (Alzheimer disease and frontotemporal dementia) neurodegenerative disorders and provide directions for future investigations in this field.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00577-7

The post Circadian rhythms in neurodegenerative disorders appeared first on EMFSA.

Brain protein helps explain link between circadian rhythm, Alzheimer’s disease

by Tamara Bhandari•December 16, 2020

Fractured sleep, daytime sleepiness and other signs of disturbance in one’s circadian rhythm are common complaints of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and the problems only get worse as the disease progresses. But the reason for the link between Alzheimer’s and circadian dysfunction is not well understood.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis say that a clue may lie in the brain protein YKL-40. In a study published Dec. 16 in Science Translational Medicine, the researchers report that YKL-40 is both regulated by clock genes and involved in clearing away potentially toxic buildup of Alzheimer’s proteins in the brain. Moreover, Alzheimer’s patients who carry a genetic variant that reduces YKL-40 levels maintain their cognitive faculties longer than people without the variant, the scientists found.

The findings suggest that YKL-40 is a possible link between circadian rhythm dysfunction and Alzheimer’s, and that therapies targeting the protein may slow the course of the disease.

“If your circadian clock is not quite right for years and years — you routinely suffer from disrupted sleep at night and napping during the day — the cumulative effect of chronic dysregulation could influence inflammatory pathways such that you accumulate more amyloid plaques,” said senior author Erik Musiek, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology. Amyloid plaques in the brain are one of the early hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. “We hope that a better understanding of how the circadian clock affects YKL-40 could lead to a new strategy for reducing amyloid in the brain.”

Our daily rhythms are set by a master clock in the brain that is driven by the day and night cycle. Each cell also maintains its own internal clock, pegged to the master clock. A surprisingly broad array of biological processes — from sugar absorption to body temperature to immune and inflammatory responses — vary by time of day. Read more at: https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/protein-involved-in-removing-alzheimers-buildup-linked-to-circadian-rhythm/

Study:

Chi3l1/YKL-40 is controlled by the astrocyte circadian clock and regulates neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis

By Brian V. Lananna, Celia A. McKee, Melvin W. King, Jorge L. Del-Aguila, Julie M. Dimitry, Fabiana H. G. Farias, Collin J. Nadarajah, David D. Xiong, Chun Guo, Alexander J. Cammack, Jack A. Elias, Jinsong Zhang, Carlos Cruchaga, Erik S. Musiek

Science Translational Medicine 16 Dec 2020

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Volume 432, 15 April 2020, Pages 216-228

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.047

Fasciani I, Petragnano F, Aloisi G, Marampon F, Rossi M, Coppolino MF, Rossi R, Longoni B, Scarselli M, Maggio R. A New Threat to Dopamine Neurons: The Downside of Artificial Light. Neuroscience. 2020 Apr 15;432:216-228. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.047. Epub 2020 Mar 4. PMID: 32142863.

Highlights

• Artificial light could indirectly damage dopamine neurons blunting the circadian rhythms of melatonin secretion.

• Artificial light could directly damage dopamine neuron by photoactivating biological relevant molecules.

• Light can modify the firing rate of dopamine neurons by activating opsins expressed in the substantia nigra.

• Excessive artificial light could be an adjunctive environmental risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.

Abstract

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452220301408?fbclid=IwAR23yNQUE1YtTeU_7p9O58s7-jVZEZeXpSQALRMttRvwIYCe9sUE8bmIpfQ

The post A New Threat to Dopamine Neurons: The Downside of Artificial Light appeared first on EMFSA.

https://www.saferemr.com/2019/07/recent-research.html

Cellular Phone Use and Risk of Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Central nervous system lymphoma and radiofrequency radiation – A case report and incidence data in the Swedish Cancer Register on non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Difference of ICNIRP Guidelines and IEEE C95.1 Standard for Human Protection from Radio-Frequency Exposures

Human Electromagnetic Field Exposure in 5G at 28 GHz Radiation

Radiation Analysis in a Gradual 5G Network Deployment Strategy

Measurement and Analysis of the Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Environment in Downtown Areas of Beijing

Electromagnetic radiation and Alzheimer’s disease

Which sources of electromagnetic field are of the highest concern for electrosensitive individuals? – Questionnaire study with a literature review

The effect of short-term electromagnetic fields caused by mobile phones on the electrical activity of alpha and beta brain waves

Effects of 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi exposure on sleep-dependent memory consolidation

The Relationship between Risk Perception of Cell Phones and Objective Knowledge of EMF in Korea

Somatosensory illusions elicited by sham electromagnetic field exposure: Experimental evidence for a predictive processing account of somatic symptom perception

Influences of exposure to 915-MHz radiofrequency identification signals on serotonin metabolites in rats: A pilot study (of RFID)

The protective effect of melatonin on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields of mobile phone-induced testicular damage in an experimental mouse mode

Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat

No Increased DNA Damage Observed in the Brain, Liver, and Lung of Fetal Mice Treated With Ethylnitrosourea and Exposed to UMTS Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields

Evaluation of heart rate variability, blood pressure and lipid profile alterations from dual transceiver mobile phone radiation exposure

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of mobile phone use on the oral epithelium: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones can cause considerable changes in the balance of Bax/Bcl2 mRNA expression in the hippocampus of mice

Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat

Effects of radiofrequency field exposure on proteotoxic-induced and heat-induced HSF1 response in live cells using the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technique

Radiofrequency at 2.45 GHz increases toxicity, pro-inflammatory and pre-apoptotic activity caused by black carbon in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line

IEC/IEEE International Standard – Measurement procedure for assessment of specific absorption rate of human exposure to RF fields from hand-held and body-mounted wireless communication devices

Study of the effects of 3.1 THz radiation on the expression of recombinant red fluorescent protein (RFP) in E. coli

Study on the effects of terahertz radiation on gene networks of Escherichia coli by means of fluorescent biosensors

Occupational Exposure to Electric Shocks and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Motor Neurone Disease

Association of personal exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields with pregnancy outcomes among women seeking fertility treatment in a longitudinal cohort study

Changes in the Honeybee Antioxidant System after 12 h of Exposure to Electromagnetic Field Frequency of 50 Hz and Variable Intensity

The effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields exposure at 1 mT on hemogram and blood biochemistry in rats

Safety of smartwatches and their chargers in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices

Tumour treating fields therapy for glioblastoma: current advances and future directions

The post October 11, 2020: 31 New Papers on Electromagnetic Fields and Biology or Health, Electromagnetic Radiation Safety appeared first on EMFSA.

Omer Dasdag, Nur Adalier & Suleyman Dasdag (2020) Electromagnetic radiation and Alzheimer’s disease, Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 34:1, 1087-1094, DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2020.1820378

Abstract

This study aims to explore whether there is a relationship between different electromagnetic radiations, such as extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF), radiofrequency (RF) radiation and ionizing radiation, and Alzheimer’s disease. Resources related to the subject were scanned and 46 articles that were important to clarify the subject were evaluated. The results of the study investigating the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and electromagnetic fields were still contradictory. Whereas many researchers suggest that some electromagnetic radiation has prepared the ground for AD, others claim that RF radiation has a positive effect on the disease in question. The current state of knowledge calls for further detailed studies to clarify the issue.

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Abstract

Purpose of review: This article provides a discussion of the current evidence and contemporary views on the relationship between sleep disorders and neurologic disease.

Recent findings: Disrupted or disordered sleep can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality, the risk of cardiovascular events, increased seizure frequency, and altered immune responses. Studies have implicated disrupted sleep and circadian rhythm dysfunction with both amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau deposition. A bidirectional relationship exists between disrupted sleep and the progression of Alzheimer disease pathology. Insomnia has been reported as a prodromal symptom in autoimmune encephalitis. Primary sleep disorders have now been increasingly recognized as a common comorbid condition in multiple sclerosis, making it imperative that neurologists feel comfortable differentiating multiple sclerosis fatigue from excessive daytime sleepiness caused by primary sleep disorders to optimally treat their patients.

Summary: Sleep disorders are common across the population. By recognizing sleep disorders in patients with neurologic conditions, neurologists can provide comprehensive care and, in some cases, reduce neurologic disease burden.

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Abstract

Previous studies suggest that extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) may impact human health. However, epidemiologic studies have provided inconsistent results on the association between exposure to ELF EMFs and various health outcomes. This scoping review reports on primary investigations that were published during the ten-year period of 2007-2017 on the association between ELF EMFs and cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), reproductive health effects, and neurodegenerative diseases. We identified a total of 361 articles from two bibliographic databases (PubMed and EMBASE). Of these, 39 articles (19 cancer studies, two CVD studies, nine reproductive health studies, and ten neurodegenerative disease studies [with one repeated for two outcomes]) met inclusion criteria. Articles identified in this study focus on three different types of exposure: occupational (22 studies), residential (15 studies), and electric blanket (two studies). This review suggests that ELF EMFs may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer’s disease; however, limited evidence was found to suggest that ELF EMFs are associated with several types of cancer, CVD, and reproductive outcomes. Additional epidemiological studies in large study populations with improved exposure assessments are needed to clarify current inconclusive relationships.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31679262

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