Electromagnetic fields exposure on fetal and childhood abnormalities: Systematic review and meta-analysis

" A total of 14 studies were included in the analysis, and the outcomes investigated were: change in gene expression, oxidant parameters, antioxidant parameters, and DNA damage parameters in the umbilical cord blood of the fetus and fetal developmental disorders, cancers, and childhood development disorders. Totally, the events of fetal and childhood abnormalities were more common in parents who have been exposed to EMFs compared to those who have not (). Moreover, fetal developmental disorders (); cancer (); childhood development disorders (); changes in gene expression (); oxidant parameters (); and DNA damage parameters () in parents who have been exposed to EMFs were more than those in parents who have not. According to meta-regression, publication year has a significant effect on heterogeneity (). Maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, due to the high level of stem cells and their high sensitivity to this radiation, the biochemical parameters of the umbilical cord blood examined was shown increased oxidative stress reactions, changes in protein gene expression, DNA damage, and increased embryonic abnormalities. In addition, parental exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation can lead to the enhancement of different cell-based cancers and developmental disorders such as speech problems in childhood." {Credits 1}

{Credits 1} 🎪 Kashani, Z., Pakzad, R., Fakari, F., Haghparast, M., Abdi, F., Kiani, Z., Talebi, A. & Haghgoo, S. (2023). Electromagnetic fields exposure on fetal and childhood abnormalities: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Medicine, 18(1), 20230697. https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2023-0697. © 2023 the author(s). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.