New Swedish pilot study finds much higher RF radiation levels on commercial aircraft equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi
A new Swedish pilot study shows that passengers on aircraft equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi may be exposed to substantially higher levels of radiofrequency (RF) microwave radiation than on aircraft using earlier-generation Wi-Fi systems.
The study, published in July 2026 in the Fortune Journal of Health Sciences, is the first to investigate RF radiation levels on board commercial aircraft following the introduction of satellite-based high-speed internet systems offering data transmission speeds exceeding 500 Mbit/s.
Up to 80 Times Higher Radiation Levels
The study, conducted by researcher and physician Lennart Hardell of the Environment and Cancer Research Foundation in collaboration with Mona Nilsson of the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, measured RF microwave radiation during two SAS flights in the summer of 2026. One aircraft was equipped with the new high-speed Wi-Fi system, while the other used the previous-generation standard Wi-Fi system.
The results revealed a clear difference.
On the aircraft equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, maximum RF radiation levels ranged from 299,000 to 651,000 microwatts per square metre (µW/m²).
On the aircraft using the older Wi-Fi system, maximum levels ranged from 8,310 to 69,100 µW/m².
Thus, the highest measured exposure levels were approximately 10 to 80 times higher with the new system.
Increasing Public Exposure
Over the past two decades, public exposure to RF microwave radiation has increased substantially. Mobile phone use has become widespread, while wireless networks and mobile base stations are now found almost everywhere—including environments where such exposure previously did not occur, such as aboard commercial aircrafts.
At the same time, considerable scientific disagreement remains regarding safe exposure levels.
The exposure limits adopted in most countries are based on recommendations issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These limits protect only against the acute effects caused by tissue heating and have been widely criticized as inadequate because they do not protect against other potentially harmful health effects. For example, 268 scientists have signed an international appeal calling for substantially lower exposure limits that take into account the growing body of evidence reporting adverse effects at exposure levels well below the current ICNIRP limits.
The authors of the new study note that a large number of published experimental and epidemiological studies over several decades have reported harmful biological effects at substantially lower exposure levels, where no measurable tissue heating occurs. Reported effects include oxidative stress, DNA damage, adverse effects on the nervous system, and impairments of memory and cognitive function.
Exceeding Recommended Precautionary Levels
Although the measured RF radiation levels were well below the ICNIRP exposure limits, they exceed by a very large margin the precautionary levels for Wi-Fi recommended by the European Academy for Environmental Medicine (EUROPAEM) in 2016.
EUROPAEM recommends maximum exposure levels of:
- 10 µW/m² during the daytime
- 1 µW/m² during the night
- 0.1 µW/m² for particularly sensitive individuals
The highest levels measured on the aircraft equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi were therefore tens of thousands of times higher than these precautionary recommendations.
The researchers emphasize that cabin crew and frequent flyers may experience prolonged and repeated exposure.
Pregnant women, young children, and individuals who report heightened sensitivity to RF microwave radiation are also identified as groups that may warrant particular consideration.
No measurements could be carried out in the cockpit. However, the authors argue that pilots’ exposure should also be investigated, as optimal cognitive performance is essential for flight safety. The Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation has compiled evidence from nearly 60 published studies reporting adverse effects of similar RF radiation on memory.
A Preliminary Pilot Study
The authors emphasize that this investigation is a pilot study based on only two flights. Consequently, the findings do not necessarily represent exposure levels on all aircraft or across all airlines.
Nevertheless, the results suggest that the introduction of high-speed Wi-Fi may substantially increase passenger exposure compared with previous onboard wireless systems and that this issue warrants more comprehensive investigation.
The researchers therefore call for larger, independent studies of RF microwave radiation aboard commercial aircraft, together with formal health risk assessments before this technology is introduced on a large scale.
The findings raise the question of whether the deployment of high-speed onboard internet systems has been preceded by sufficiently thorough investigations of human exposure and potential health risks. The authors conclude that such research should be carried out by independent scientists without conflicts of interest before the technology becomes standard on commercial aircraft worldwide.
Source: Mona Nilsson, Lennart Hardell. Very High Radiofrequency Radiation in the Passenger Cabin Measured in an Airplane with High-Speed Wi-Fi. Fortune Journal of Health Sciences. 9 (2026): 340-343. Open access
