Abstract

Overview

With the rapid growth of wireless communication devices, the influences of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health are gathering increasing attention. The skin, being the largest and most exposed organ, is a main focus for studying the health effects of EMF exposures.

Findings

• The study investigated the impact of EMFs at LTE (1.762 GHz) and 5G (28 GHz) frequencies on skin pigmentation using murine and human melanoma cells.
• Exposures were set at 4 hours per day, approximating the upper limit of average smartphone use.
• Neither LTE nor 5G exposure led to significant changes in cell viability, dendrite morphology, nor pigmentation in the studied cell lines.
• Additionally, analysis of the MelanoDerm™, a 3D pigmented human epidermis model, revealed minimal changes in melanocyte size but no significant changes in tissue brightness following EMF exposure.

Conclusion

Results suggest that under normal smartphone usage conditions, exposure to radio frequencies within LTE and 5G bands may not significantly affect melanin synthesis or overall skin pigmentation. This study addresses growing concerns over EMF exposure from new telecommunications technologies.