In its comprehensive magnetic field project the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that where many diseases are concerned there is much less evidence of health risks than is the case with childhood leukaemia.

Only rarely are researchers able to conclude that research findings directly indicate that there is no health risk associated with a specific effect. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has, for example, only one single substance in its lowest category ('probably not carcinogenic to humans').
 
Where some diseases are concerned, research findings directly indicate that the fields are not harmful, eg breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. In Environmental Health Criteria, which was published in 2007, WHO presented its evaluation of research findings. In the following a few examples of research findings are presented:

Cardiovascular disease
A review of all previous studies has shown that collectively they speak against a causal relationship with magnetic fields.

Electrosensitivity
In an independent fact sheet from 2005, WHO describes electrosensitivity as an umbrella term for a number of symptoms which the afflicted associate with magnetic and electric fields. This could, for example, be skin irritation, headache, lethargy, a general feeling of malaise and a number of other serious symptoms.

Even though the symptoms may be unpleasant, electrosensitivity is one of the few ailments where it is justified to conduct testing on voluntary test persons. The tests performed are so-called blind tests where the test persons do not know whether they are exposed to an electric or a magnetic field. The electric current to some of the appliances with which the test persons associate their symptoms is switched on and of. Repeated and well-controlled testing has demonstrated that test persons suffering from electrosensitivity cannot to a greater extent than others feel when they are exposed to the fields.

WHO fully recognises the symptoms and the fact that they can be extremely serious, but the test results force them to conclude that the symptoms are not caused by electric or magnetic fields. Therefore there must be other causes.

ALS
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is a relatively rare neurological disorder affecting the cells in the central nervous system, which controls, among other things, muscle activity. The disorder leads to muscular atrophy and paralysis.

Magnetic fields in the workplace have statistically been linked to a higher risk of ALS, but researchers have as yet not been able to establish an association. One hypothesis is that persons having been subjected to severe electric shocks may have en increased risk of developing ALS. In some cases there will be a link between working environments with strong magnetic fields and the risk of severe electric shocks. Researchers are presently looking into this particular point.

Other possible links examined include depression, neurological disorders, DNA changes and embryonic damage.