Biological Effects
The first and most important part of the the literature review examined the scientific evidence for possible biological and health effects of RF. The two known actions of RF fields on living matter are assessed: thermal (due to dielectric heating of molecules); and non-thermal (mechanisms not due to local or whole body increases in temperature).
The first part of the review examines experimental evidence based both on in vitro (cell cultures and isolated tissues) and in vivo (living animals) models. The second part reviews the literature on RF effects on human performance and health parameters, both from the point of view of laboratory (provocation) studies, as well as by means of observational (epidemiological) studies. This review has concentrated on exposure of humans to RF levels compatible with base stations (so called community exposures) or during the individual operation of mobile phone handsets close to the body.
