Research on extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields from high-voltage transmission lines and distribution lines.
Liu T, Wang S, He L, Ye K. · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to power line frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz) for 25 days. Rats exposed 4 hours daily showed increased anxiety behaviors in tests, while 1-hour exposure had no effect, suggesting longer daily exposure to these fields may increase anxiety levels.
Liu T, Wang S, He L, Ye K. · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (similar to power lines) for 4 weeks and found the animals performed better on memory tests. The exposed rats learned spatial tasks faster and retained memories longer than unexposed rats. This unexpected finding suggests that certain EMF exposures might enhance rather than impair brain function under specific conditions.
Wang X et al. · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (20 Hz) during morphine treatment to study brain changes after drug withdrawal. They found that EMF exposure made the reduction of dopamine D2 receptors in the hippocampus (a brain region crucial for memory and learning) even more severe during withdrawal. This suggests that EMF exposure may worsen brain chemistry changes associated with drug addiction and withdrawal.
Canseven AG, Coskun S, Seyhan N · 2008
Researchers exposed guinea pigs to household power line magnetic fields (50 Hz) for several hours daily over five days. The magnetic field exposure disrupted cellular protective systems and increased damage markers in heart and liver tissues, suggesting everyday power frequency fields may harm vital organs.
Erdal N, Gürgül S, Tamer L, Ayaz L · 2008
Researchers exposed rats to 50Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for 4 hours daily over 45 days to study liver damage. They found that female rats showed increased oxidative stress markers in their liver tissue, indicating cellular damage to proteins. This suggests that long-term exposure to power frequency magnetic fields may harm liver function, particularly in females.
Falone S et al. · 2008
Italian researchers exposed young and older rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines for 10 days. Young rats strengthened their brain's antioxidant defenses, but older rats experienced significant weakening of these protective systems, suggesting aging brains are more vulnerable to EMF damage.
Hashish AH, El-Missiry MA, Abdelkader HI, Abou-Saleh RH · 2008
Researchers exposed mice to static magnetic fields and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (like those from power lines) continuously for 30 days to study health effects. The exposed mice lost weight, showed signs of liver stress including increased oxidative damage, and had significant changes in their blood cells and immune system markers. The study demonstrates that prolonged exposure to these common electromagnetic fields can disrupt normal body functions through oxidative stress.
Ahmed Z, Wieraszko A. · 2008
Researchers exposed brain tissue from the hippocampus (memory center) to pulsed magnetic fields for 30 minutes. The neurons became significantly more electrically active, firing more signals and changing how they communicate. This shows magnetic fields can directly alter brain cell function.
Hashish AH, El-Missiry MA, Abdelkader HI, Abou-Saleh RH. · 2008
Researchers exposed mice to magnetic fields and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (the type from power lines) for 30 days to study health effects. The exposed mice lost weight and showed signs of liver stress, including increased oxidative damage (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and changes in blood chemistry. The study suggests that prolonged exposure to these common electromagnetic fields may disrupt the body's ability to protect itself from cellular damage.
Vecchio F et al. · 2007
Italian researchers exposed 10 people to cell phone radiation for 45 minutes while measuring their brain waves with EEG technology. They found that the radiation altered how the left and right sides of the brain communicate with each other, specifically disrupting the synchronization of alpha brain waves that are important for information processing. This suggests that cell phone emissions don't just affect individual brain cells, but can interfere with the coordinated electrical activity between different brain regions.
Krause CM, Pesonen M, Haarala Bjornberg C, Hamalainen H. · 2007
Finnish researchers exposed 72 men to cell phone radiation at 902 MHz while they performed memory tasks, measuring brain wave activity through EEG recordings. The study found that phone radiation caused subtle changes in brain oscillations (electrical activity patterns) in the alpha frequency range, though these effects were inconsistent and didn't affect actual task performance. This adds to growing evidence that cell phone radiation can influence brain activity, even when users don't notice any immediate behavioral changes.
Jadidi M et al. · 2007
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (household electricity frequency) immediately after learning a maze. An 8 milliTesla field for 20 minutes disrupted memory formation when applied right after learning, suggesting magnetic fields can interfere with how brains consolidate new memories.
Del Giudice E et al. · 2007
Italian researchers exposed human brain cells to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields from power lines and found significantly increased production of beta-amyloid proteins, the toxic clumps linked to Alzheimer's disease. This laboratory finding suggests a potential biological mechanism connecting household electricity exposure to Alzheimer's risk.
Carrubba S, Frilot C, Chesson AL, Marino AA. · 2007
Researchers exposed eight people to weak 60 Hz magnetic fields (1 gauss) for 2 seconds and measured their brain activity using specialized electrodes. They discovered that human brains can detect these low-level magnetic fields and respond in complex, nonlinear ways that standard testing methods miss. This suggests humans may have an evolutionary magnetic sensing ability that makes us vulnerable to artificial electromagnetic fields in our environment.
Stevens P · 2007
Researchers exposed people to extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 5 microTesla (similar to standing near some household appliances) pulsing at brain wave frequencies of 8-12 Hz. Participants reported changes in their emotional state during exposure, and brain measurements showed altered electrical activity patterns. This suggests that even relatively weak magnetic fields can influence both how people feel and measurable brain function.
Clark ML et al. · 2007
Researchers measured hormone levels in women living near radio and TV broadcasting towers to see if electromagnetic field exposure affected their bodies' natural chemical processes. They found that postmenopausal women with higher exposure to radiofrequency radiation and power line magnetic fields showed increased levels of estrogen metabolites in their urine, particularly those women who also had low melatonin levels. This suggests that EMF exposure may disrupt normal hormone regulation in older women.
Stevens P. · 2007
Researchers exposed people to weak magnetic fields similar to those from household appliances and found participants reported emotional changes. Brain scans revealed these feelings weren't from direct brain effects, but from people noticing subtle physical sensations, showing how weak fields can indirectly influence mood.
Canseven AG, Keskil ZA, Keskil S, Seyhan N. · 2007
Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) before and after inducing seizures with a chemical drug, to see if the magnetic field exposure would affect seizure activity. They found no changes in seizure timing, duration, or death rates, suggesting that this type of magnetic field exposure doesn't influence seizure disorders. This challenges any potential therapeutic use of magnetic fields for epilepsy treatment.
Canseven AG, Keskil ZA, Keskil S, Seyhan N. · 2007
Researchers tested whether 50 Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) could affect seizures in mice, either making them better or worse. They exposed mice to magnetic fields before and after giving them a seizure-inducing drug, measuring how quickly seizures started and how long they lasted. The magnetic field exposure had no effect on seizures whatsoever, suggesting these fields don't influence brain seizure activity at the levels tested.
Ishay JS et al. · 2007
Researchers exposed worker hornets to weak 50 Hz magnetic fields (similar to power line frequency) for two weeks and found dramatic disruptions in their natural building behavior. The exposed hornets built 35-55% fewer cells, created deformed hexagonal structures, and produced more fragile comb stems compared to unexposed hornets. This demonstrates that even very low-level magnetic field exposure can interfere with complex biological processes that insects rely on for survival.
Calota V, Dragoiu S, Meghea A, Giurginca M. · 2007
Romanian researchers exposed human blood serum to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the frequency of European electrical systems) for up to two hours. The exposure increased oxidative stress markers in the blood, with effects becoming stronger when additional oxidizing chemicals were added, suggesting power-frequency fields may damage blood components.
Carrubba S, Frilot C, Chesson AL, Marino AA. · 2007
Researchers exposed eight people to weak 60 Hz magnetic fields from power lines for two seconds and measured brain activity. The brain consistently responded to these brief exposures in complex ways that standard tests couldn't detect, suggesting humans may be more sensitive to electromagnetic fields than previously recognized.
Che Y, Sun H, Cui Y, Zhou D, Ma Y. · 2007
Researchers exposed young chickens to power line magnetic fields for either 20 hours or 50 minutes daily, then tested their learning ability. Chicks with prolonged exposure showed significant learning problems, while brief exposure caused no harm, suggesting extended magnetic field exposure may impair brain function.
Del Giudice E et al. · 2007
Researchers exposed human brain cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines and found they produced more amyloid-beta, the toxic proteins that build up in Alzheimer's disease. This laboratory study suggests electromagnetic field exposure might contribute to brain changes associated with Alzheimer's.
Jadidi M et al. · 2007
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) for 20 minutes after they learned a memory task. High-intensity exposure (8 milliTesla) impaired their ability to remember the task 48 hours later, suggesting magnetic fields can disrupt how the brain stores new memories.