6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
All Exposure Types

Magnetic Fields (ELF)

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Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) magnetic fields are produced by the flow of electrical current. They are measured in milligauss (mG) or microtesla (µT). Unlike electric fields, magnetic fields easily penetrate walls and most materials.

Concern Level Thresholds

Based on Building Biology Institute guidelines (mG (milligauss)):

No Concern
< 0.2 mG
Slight Concern
0.2 – 1 mG
Severe Concern
1 – 5 mG
Extreme Concern
> 5 mG

See where common exposures fall on the scale:

A logarithmic scale showing your reading relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and FCC regulatory limits.Your Magnetic Field Exposure in ContextNo ConcernSlightSevereExtreme0.215FCC Limit →0.0110,000 mG

Showing 486 studies with measured magnetic fields (elf) exposure

Effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on histopathology and structures of brains of preincubated white Leghorn chicken embryos.

Lahijani MS, Bigdeli MR, Kalantary S. · 2011

Researchers exposed chicken embryos to magnetic fields similar to power lines before incubation and studied their brain development for 14 days. The exposed embryos showed significant brain damage including increased cell death and tissue breakdown compared to unexposed controls. This suggests that magnetic field exposure during critical development periods can harm the developing nervous system.

Effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on histopathology and structures of brains of preincubated white leghorn chicken embryos

Lahijani MS, Bigdeli MR, Kalantary S. · 2011

Researchers investigated the effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on the brain histopathology and structures of preincubated white leghorn chicken embryos. Three hundred fertilized eggs were divided into experimental, control, and sham groups, with the experimental eggs exposed to three different field intensities of 1.33, 2.66, and 7.32 mT for 24 hours before incubation. The results suggested that the electromagnetic fields induce brain damages at different levels.

Biophoton emission of MDCK cell with hydrogen peroxide and 60 Hz AC magnetic field.

Cheun BS, Yi SH, Baik KY, Lim JK, Yoo JS, Shin HW, Soh KS · 2007

Researchers studied biophoton emission from Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells treated with hydrogen peroxide, with and without exposure to a 60 Hz AC magnetic field. Hydrogen peroxide increased biophoton emission from the cells, and the increase was dependent on the amount of hydrogen peroxide applied. When the 60 Hz AC magnetic field was applied, the decay of chemiluminescence intensity took a different path compared to cells not exposed to the field.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic field induces manganese accumulation in brain, kidney and liver of rats

Celik MS et al. · 2013

Researchers studied whether extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) exposure affects how manganese accumulates in rat organs. A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into eight groups, with four groups also exposed to ELF-MF at 1.5 mT and 50 Hz for 4 hours, 5 days a week, over 45 days. Manganese levels in the brain, kidney, and liver were higher in groups that received both manganese and ELF-MF exposure than in groups that received manganese alone.

Oxidative stress and apoptosis in relation to exposure to magnetic field

Emre M, Cetiner S, Zencir S, Unlukurt I, Kahraman I, Topcu Z · 2011

Researchers investigated the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure with pulse trains on lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in rat liver tissue. The study used 30 adult male Wistar rats and measured plasma enzyme and protein levels, as well as apoptotic and necrotic cell percentages in kidney extracts. Oxidative stress indicators increased, and necrotic cell percentages were significantly lower in exposed animals compared to unexposed or sham control groups, though DNA ladder analyses did not differentiate between the groups.

Effects of continuous and intermittent magnetic fields on oxidative parameters in vivo.

Coşkun S, Balabanli B, Canseven A, Seyhan N. · 2009

Researchers exposed adult guinea pigs to a continuous and intermittent 50 Hz, 1.5 mT magnetic field for 4 hours per day for 4 days. Intermittent magnetic field exposure was effective on plasma lipid peroxidation, while continuous magnetic field exposure was effective on plasma MPO activity and NO levels. Augmentation of lipid peroxidation was observed in liver tissue under both intermittent and continuous magnetic field exposures.

Effects of a 60 Hz Magnetic Field Exposure Up to 3000 μT on Human Brain Activation as Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Legros A, Modolo J, Brown S, Roberston J, Thomas AW. · 2015

Researchers used functional MRI to look for changes in brain activation in human participants following exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field. The study found significant changes in task-induced functional brain activation as a consequence of magnetic field exposure, but no impact on task performance. The researchers discussed the possibility that exposure at 60 Hz, 3000 μT may be capable of modulating cortical excitability via a modulation of synaptic plasticity processes.

Neurophysiological and behavioral effects of a 60 Hz, 1,800 μT magnetic field in humans

Legros A et al. · 2012

Researchers investigated the effects of a 60 Hz, 1,800 μT magnetic field on neurophysiological and neuromotor measures in humans, including EEG, standing balance, voluntary motor function, and physiological tremor. Results suggested a reduction of human standing balance and an increase of physiological tremor amplitude in the frequency range associated with central nervous system contribution, while no exposure effect appeared on EEG or voluntary motor control. The researchers concluded that 1 h of 60 Hz, 1,800 μT magnetic field exposure may modulate human involuntary motor control without being detected in cortical electrical activity.

Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulates cellular proliferation in human intervertebral disc cells.

Lee HM et al. · 2010

Researchers cultured human intervertebral disc (IVD) cells in alginate beads and exposed them to an electromagnetic field at 1.8 millitesla magnetic flux density and 60 Hz. Cellular proliferation was observed in the EMF group (p < 0.05), and no cytotoxicity was found. There was no significant change in the expression of aggrecan, type I, and type II collagen mRNA in the EMF group compared to the control group. DNA synthesis was partially mediated by nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2.

Effects of fifty-hertz electromagnetic fields on granulocytic differentiation of ATRA-treated acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells.

Errico Provenzano A et al. · 2018

Researchers studied the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on the differentiation process of acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells that were also treated with ATRA. The NB4 cells used were a cell line established from the bone marrow of a patient affected by acute promyelocytic leukemia. ELF-EMF exposure decreased cellular proliferation potential and helped ATRA-treated NB4 cells to mature. The results indicated that ELF-EMF exposure promotes ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation of these leukemia cells.

Effects of Single and Repeated Exposure to a 50-Hz 2-mT Electromagnetic Field on Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons.

Zeng Y, Shen Y , Hong L, Chen Y, Shi X, Zeng Q, Yu P. · 2017

Researchers exposed brain cells important for memory to power-line frequency magnetic fields for eight hours daily. The exposure reduced cell health and increased cellular damage from free radicals, suggesting household electrical fields may stress brain cells without causing severe damage.

Effects of single and repeated exposure to a 50-Hz 2-mT electromagnetic field on primary cultured hippocampal neurons

Zeng Y, Shen Y, Hong L, Chen Y, Shi X, Zeng Q, Yu P · 2017

Researchers evaluated the biological effects of different patterns of extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure on primary cultured hippocampal neurons, looking at viability, apoptosis, genomic instability, and oxidative stress. Repeated exposure to a 50-Hz 2-mT field for 8 hours per day decreased cell viability and increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The researchers noted that none of the repeated exposure patterns had significant effects on DNA damage, apoptosis, or autophagy, suggesting no severe biological consequences in the cultured neurons.

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) prevents pro-oxidant effects of H2O2 in SK-N-BE(2) human neuroblastoma cells.

Falone S et al. · 2016

Researchers exposed SK-N-BE(2) drug-resistant human neuroblastoma cells to a pulsed electromagnetic field and then challenged the cells with hydrogen peroxide to measure oxidative stress responses. The PEMF increased MnSOD-based antioxidant protection and reduced ROS production in response to a pro-oxidant challenge. The researchers suggested their work might lay foundation for the development of non-invasive PEMF-based approaches aimed at elevating endogenous antioxidant properties in cellular or tissue models.

Extremely low frequency magnetic field modulates the level of neurotransmitters.

Chung YH et al. · 2015

Researchers exposed rats to an extremely low frequency magnetic field at 60 Hz and 2.0 mT for 2 or 5 days, then measured neurotransmitter levels in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus. The exposure produced significant differences in norepinephrine and vanillyl mandelic acid in the striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus. Significant increases in serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were observed in the striatum, thalamus or hippocampus, and dopamine concentration was significantly increased in the thalamus. The researchers concluded that exposure to ELF-MF may evoke changes in these brain chemicals, though the mechanisms remain to be characterized.

Effects of two different waveforms of ELF MFs on bioelectrical activity of antennal lobe neurons of Morimus funereus (Insecta, Coleoptera).

Todorović D, Prolić Z, Petković B, Kalauzi A. · 2015

Researchers analyzed the bioelectrical activity of antennal lobe neurons in adult Morimus funereus beetles exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields of different waveforms and exposure durations. Sine wave magnetic fields did not change the reversibility factor of antennal lobe neuronal activity regardless of exposure duration, while square wave exposure for 10 and 15 minutes significantly changed the reversibility factors of the nearest neurons.

Extremely low frequency magnetic field modulates the level of neurotransmitters.

Chung YH et al. · 2015

Researchers exposed laboratory rats to 60 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electrical systems) for 2 to 5 days and found significant changes in brain chemistry. The magnetic field exposure altered levels of key neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine across multiple brain regions. These chemical messengers control mood, movement, attention, and other critical brain functions.

DNA & Genetic DamageNo Effects Found

Increased γ-H2AX by exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic fields combined with ionizing radiation, but not hydrogen peroxide, in non-tumorigenic human cell lines.

Yoon HE, Lee JS, Myung SH, Lee YS · 2014

Researchers exposed human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells and human lung epithelial L132 cells to a 60-Hz magnetic field at 2 mT for 6 hours. The 2 mT exposure increased γ-H2AX expression and foci production, a marker of DNA double-strand breaks. A 1 mT exposure did not produce this effect. The 2 mT field enhanced the DNA damage marker when combined with ionizing radiation but not with hydrogen peroxide.

Effects of the static and ELF magnetic fields on the neuronal population activity in Morimus funereus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) antennal lobe revealed by wavelet analysis.

Spasić S, Kesić S, Stojadinović G, Petković B, Todorović D. · 2014

Researchers studied the effects of a static magnetic field (SMF, 2 mT) and an extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF MF, 50 Hz, 2 mT) on neuronal population activity in adult longhorn beetles Morimus funereus. The effects of prolonged and repeated ELF MF exposure on local field potentials were irreversible within the investigated time frame. The researchers did not prove with the methods used that exposure to the SMF for 5 min produces any effects on neuronal population activity.

Power frequency magnetic fields induced reactive oxygen species-related autophagy in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Chen Y, Hong L, Zeng Y, Shen Y, Zeng Q. · 2014

Researchers exposed mouse embryonic fibroblasts to a 50 Hz power frequency magnetic field at 2 mT across several time points and measured autophagy markers. A significant increase in autophagic markers was observed at 6 hours, including higher LC3-II levels, increased GFP-LC3 puncta formation, and increased numbers of autophagic vacuoles. The increase in autophagic markers was the result of enhanced autophagic flux and not the suppression of lysosomal function, and the autophagic process involved reactive oxygen species and was independent of the mTOR signaling pathway.

Effects of exposure to a 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field during the early adolescent period on spatial memory in mice.

Wang X et al. · 2013

Researchers exposed adolescent mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for one hour daily during a critical brain development period. Surprisingly, the exposed mice showed improved spatial learning and memory compared to unexposed mice. This unexpected finding suggests that certain EMF exposures during development might enhance rather than harm specific brain functions, though the implications for human health remain unclear.

Effects of aluminum and extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation on oxidative stress and memory in brain of mice.

Deng Y, Zhang Y, Jia S, Liu J, Liu Y, Xu W, Liu L. · 2013

Researchers exposed mice to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) at 2 milliTesla for 4 hours daily over 8 weeks, testing both memory and brain chemistry. The magnetic field exposure caused significant memory impairment in maze tests and increased oxidative stress markers in the brain, similar to the damage caused by aluminum toxicity. These findings suggest that prolonged exposure to strong magnetic fields can harm brain function through oxidative damage.