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

Extremely low frequency magnetic field induces oxidative stress in mouse cerebellum.

Chu LY et al. · 2011

Researchers exposed mice to 60 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for 3 hours and found significant oxidative stress in the cerebellum, the brain region controlling movement and coordination. The magnetic field exposure increased harmful molecules called free radicals while depleting protective antioxidants like vitamin C. This suggests that magnetic fields from power lines and electrical devices may damage brain cells through oxidative stress.

Extremely low frequency magnetic field induces oxidative stress in mouse cerebellum.

Chu LY et al. · 2011

Researchers exposed mice to 60 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency used in power lines and household electricity) for 3 hours and found significant oxidative stress in the brain's cerebellum. The magnetic field exposure increased harmful molecules that damage cells while decreasing protective antioxidants like vitamin C. This suggests that even short-term exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields can disrupt the brain's natural defense systems against cellular damage.

Effects of acute electromagnetic field exposure and movement restraint on antioxidant system in liver, heart, kidney and plasma of Wistar rats: a preliminary report.

Martínez-Sámano J et al. · 2010

Researchers exposed adult male Wistar rats to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (60 Hz, 2.4 mT) for two hours to evaluate early effects on antioxidant systems in plasma, liver, kidney, and heart. SOD activity was lower in the plasma of restrained and EMF-exposed animals compared to unrestrained rats. There were no significant differences in CAT activity and TBARS levels among the experimental groups versus the control group. The researchers noted that oxidative stress induced by movement restraint was stronger than that produced by EMF.

Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields enhances locomotor activity via activation of dopamine D1-like receptors in mice.

Shin EJ et al. · 2007

Researchers examined the role of dopaminergic receptors in behavioral changes induced by extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF). Exposure to ELF-MF at 2.4 mT for 1 hour per day, for one or seven days, enhanced locomotor activity in a time-dependent manner. The results suggest that ELF-MF-induced behavioral responses are, at least in part, mediated by activation of dopamine D1-like receptors.

Pulsed or continuous electromagnetic field induce p53/p21-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway in mouse spermatogenic cells in vitro and thus may affect male fertility.

Solek P et al. · 2017

Researchers investigated the effects of pulsed and continuous electromagnetic fields on two mouse spermatogenic cell lines, GC-1 spg and GC-2 spd, in vitro. The researchers evaluated mitochondrial metabolism, morphology, proliferation rate, viability, cell cycle progression, oxidative stress balance, and regulatory proteins. The results strongly suggested that EMF induced oxidative and nitrosative stress-mediated DNA damage, resulting in p53/p21-dependent cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The researchers concluded that electromagnetic field impairs male fertility by inducing p53/p21-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Coupling of oxidative stress responses to tricarboxylic acid cycle and prostaglandin E2 alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans under extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field

Sun Y, Shi Z, Wang Y, Tang C, Liao Y, Yang C, Cai P · 2018

Researchers exposed Caenorhabditis elegans to 50 Hz, 3 mT extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields from the egg stage until the fourth larva stage. Reactive oxygen species levels were significantly elevated and total antioxidant capacity was significantly depressed in the exposed worms. The TCA cycle enzyme fumarase showed decreased expression, while arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2, and prostaglandin E2 synthase all showed increased levels in exposed worms.

Pharmacological analysis of response latency in the hot plate test following whole-body static magnetic field-exposure in the snail Helix pomatia.

Hernádi L, László JF. · 2014

Researchers exposed snails to a static magnetic field for 30 minutes and tested their pain response using a hot plate test. The magnetic field exposure significantly altered the snails' response time to heat by up to 47%, affecting brain chemicals involved in pain perception including serotonin and opioid systems. This demonstrates that magnetic fields can directly influence nervous system function and pain processing in living organisms.

Chronic exposure to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field induces depression-like behavior and corticosterone secretion without enhancement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in mice.

Kitaoka K, Kitamura M, Aoi S, Shimizu N, Yoshizaki K. · 2013

Researchers exposed mice to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) at 3 milliTesla for 200 hours to study effects on mood and stress hormones. The exposed mice showed depression-like behaviors, increased anxiety, and elevated levels of corticosterone (a stress hormone), suggesting that chronic magnetic field exposure may affect mental health and stress response systems.

Chronic exposure to an extremely low‐frequency magnetic field induces depression‐like behavior and corticosterone secretion without enhancement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in mice†

Kitaoka K, Kitamura M, Aoi S, Shimizu N, Yoshizaki K. · 2013

Researchers investigated whether chronic extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure affected emotional behavior and corticosterone synthesis in mice, using an intensity of 3 mT over a total exposure of 200 hours. Exposed mice showed a significant increase in total immobility time in a forced swim test and showed latency to enter the light box in a light-dark transition test, compared with sham-treated mice. Corticosterone secretion was significantly high in the exposed mice, but no changes were observed in adrenocorticotropic hormone or stress-response gene expression, and Cyp17a1 mRNA was significantly reduced.

Fifty Hertz electromagnetic field exposure stimulates secretion of beta-amyloid peptide in cultured human neuroglioma.

Del Giudice E et al. · 2007

Researchers tested whether low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure could affect amyloid-related processes in cultured cells. The study exposed H4 neuroglioma cells, which overexpress human mutant amyloid precursor protein, to a 3.1 mT 50 Hz electromagnetic field. Overnight exposure led to a significant increase in amyloid-beta peptide secretion, including the isoform Abeta 1-42, without affecting cell survival.

Fifty Hertz electromagnetic field exposure stimulates secretion of β-amyloid peptide in cultured human neuroglioma

Del Giudice E et al. · 2007

Researchers tested whether low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure could affect amyloidogenic processes in cultured cells. They exposed H4 neuroglioma cells that stably overexpress human mutant amyloid precursor protein to a 3.1 mT 50 Hz field. Overnight exposure significantly increased secretion of amyloid-beta peptide, including the isoform Aβ 1–42, without affecting cell survival.

Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields alters the behaviour, physiology and stress protein levels of desert locusts.

Wyszkowska J, Shepherd S, Sharkh S, Jackson CW, Newland PL. · 2016

Researchers exposed desert locusts to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and measured effects on behaviour, physiology, and stress proteins. Exposure above 4 mT led to reduced walking in the locusts. Recordings from the fast extensor tibiae motor neuron showed increased spike latency and a broadening of its spike in exposed animals, hind leg kick force was reduced, and stress-protein levels (Hsp70) increased.

Effects of 5-HT1 and 5-HT 2 Receptor Agonists on Electromagnetic Field-Induced Analgesia in Rats.

Ozdemir E, Demirkazik A, Taskıran AS, Arslan G. · 2019

Researchers exposed 66 adult male Wistar albino rats to alternating 50 Hz and 5 mT EMF for 2 hours a day for 15 days, then injected serotonin receptor agonists or antagonists before analgesia tests. Administration of serotonin HCl to MF-exposed rats produced a significant increase in percent maximal possible effect compared with the EMF group. Injection of WAY 100635 to MF-exposed rats produced a significant decrease in analgesic activity, while DOI hydrochloride significantly increased % MPE values compared with the EMF group. The researchers suggested that serotonin 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors play an important role in EMF-induced analgesia, but noted that further research studies are necessary to understand the mechanism.

The Static Magnetic Field Remotely Boosts the Efficiency of Doxorubicin through Modulating ROS Behaviors

Hajipour Verdom B, Abdolmaleki P, Behmanesh M. · 2018

Researchers investigated the effects of a homogenous static magnetic field (SMF) on doxorubicin-induced toxicity and proliferation rate of cancer cells. SMF alone decreased cell viability and proliferation rate in MCF-7 and HFF cells, similar to doxorubicin alone. The combination of 10 mT SMF and 0.1 µM doxorubicin decreased viability and proliferation of cancer and normal cells in a synergistic manner. The findings suggest that SMF can decrease the required dose of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and thereby decrease their side effects.

Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on morphine analgesia and tolerance in rats.

Ozdemir E et al. · 2017

Researchers used 78 adult male Wistar albino rats to investigate whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect morphine analgesia and tolerance. Rats were exposed to a 50 Hz magnetic field for 30 minutes each day for 15 days, and morphine tolerance was induced with high-dose morphine (50 mg/kg) for 3 days. In rats exposed to the magnetic field, the analgesic effect of morphine (5 mg/kg) was significantly higher than in the non-exposed morphine group, and morphine-tolerant animals exposed to the field also showed significantly higher analgesia than tolerant rats without field exposure.

Cytotoxic effects of moderate static magnetic field exposure on human periphery blood mononuclear cells are influenced by Val16Ala-MnSOD gene polymorphism.

Dornelles EB et al. · 2017

Researchers tested the in vitro cytotoxic effects of a 5 mT static magnetic field on human blood cells carrying different variants of the Val16Ala polymorphism in the manganese superoxide dismutase gene. Cytotoxic effects were observed in AA cells at all exposure times, while AV cells showed higher mortality only after 6 hours, and higher apoptosis induction was seen in AA cells compared to VV and AV cells. The authors suggest the results indicate a toxicogenetic effect of the static magnetic field related to an imbalance in SOD2 activity.

Fifty-Hertz electromagnetic fields facilitate the induction of rat bone mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into functional neurons

Bai WF, Xu WC, Feng Y, Huang H, Li XP, Deng CY, Zhang MS. · 2013

Researchers divided rat bone marrow stromal cells into three groups: one treated with electromagnetic fields, one induced without fields, and a control group. The cells in the EMF group expressed neuron-specific markers and genes, formed synaptic junctions, and pulsed excitatory postsynaptic currents. The researchers suggested that EMF appears to be a promising clinical option for stem cell transplantation therapies to combat central nervous system diseases.

Fifty-Hertz electromagnetic fields facilitate the induction of rat bone mesenchymal stromal cells to differentiate into functional neurons.

Bai WF, Xu WC, Feng Y, Huang H, Li XP, Deng CY, Zhang MS. · 2013

Researchers exposed rat bone marrow stem cells to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency as household electricity) for one hour daily over 12 days. The EMF exposure significantly enhanced the stem cells' ability to transform into functional brain neurons, complete with working synapses and electrical activity. This suggests that power frequency magnetic fields can directly influence cellular development and may have therapeutic applications for treating nervous system diseases.

Differentiation of K562 Cells Under ELF-EMF Applied at Different Time Courses

Ayşe IG, Zafer A, Sule O, Işil IT, Kalkan T. · 2010

Researchers studied the effect of ELF-EMF on the differentiation of K562 cells at different time courses. A single exposure to ELF-EMF resulted in a decrease in differentiation, while ELF-EMF applied every day for 1 hour caused an increase in differentiation. ELF-EMF increased ROS levels in K562 cells not treated with hemin, but did not change ROS levels in hemin-treated cells, indicating that ROS was not the cause of the differentiation effects.

Effect of exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field with or without insulin on blood-brain barrier permeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Gulturk S et al. · 2010

Scientists exposed diabetic rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (from power lines) for three hours daily over 30 days. The magnetic fields increased blood-brain barrier permeability, allowing substances to pass more easily into brain tissue. This matters because a compromised barrier can let toxins reach the brain.