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Oxidative Stress

Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field on antioxidant activity in plasma and red blood cells in spot welders

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Sharifian A, Gharavi M, Pasalar P, Aminian O · 2009

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In red blood cells of spot welders, SOD and GPX antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly lower than in unexposed workers, and both declined as magnetic field intensity increased.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured antioxidant markers in 46 spot welders occupationally exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and compared results with a non-exposed control group. In the red blood cells of exposed workers, SOD activity decreased by 22% and GPX activity decreased by 12.3%, both statistically significant. Total serum antioxidant status showed no significant difference between the two groups. The researchers concluded that ELF-MF could influence red blood cell antioxidant activity and might act as an oxidative stressor.

Why This Matters

The spot welders were exposed to magnetic field strengths ranging from 8.8 to 84 microTesla at a frequency of 50 Hz, alongside electric field strengths of 20 to 133 V/m. The correlation between SOD activity and magnetic field intensity was notably strong, with a correlation coefficient of -0.625. GPX activity also showed a significant negative correlation with magnetic field intensity, with a coefficient of -0.348. The researchers identified SOD and GPX as the most important markers involved in this process, while the plasma-level TAS measure did not differ significantly between groups. The authors noted that magnetic field effects on red blood cell antioxidant activity might occur even at recommended exposure levels.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.0088 - 0.084 mT
Electric Field
20–133 V/m
Source/Device
50 Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 0.0088 - 0.084 mT for magnetic fields:

This study used 20–133 V/m for electric fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.0088 - 0.084 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 23 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The purpose of this study was to determine a possible relation between exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) and the human antioxidant activity.

The total serum antioxidant status (TAS), red blood cells (RBCs) glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and su...

No significant differences in TAS levels were observed (P value = 0.065). However, in RBCs of expose...

The results of this study indicate that ELF-MF could influence the RBC antioxidant activity and might act as an oxidative stressor. Intracellular antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and GPX were found to be the most important markers involving in this process. The influence of magnetic field on the antioxidant activity of RBCs might occur even at the recommended levels of exposure.

Cite This Study
Sharifian A, Gharavi M, Pasalar P, Aminian O (2009). Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field on antioxidant activity in plasma and red blood cells in spot welders Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 82(2):259-266, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2009_effect_of_extremely_low_460,
  author = {Sharifian A and Gharavi M and Pasalar P and Aminian O},
  title = {Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field on antioxidant activity in plasma and red blood cells in spot welders},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1007/s00420-008-0332-2},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00420-008-0332-2},
}
DOI: 10.1007/s00420-008-0332-2

Cited By (26 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study measured antioxidant markers in 46 spot welders exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz and magnetic field strengths of 8.8 to 84 microTesla.
SOD activity fell by 22% and GPX activity fell by 12.3% in the red blood cells of exposed workers, both decreases being statistically significant.
No significant difference in total serum antioxidant status was found between the exposed and control groups.
A significant negative correlation was found between magnetic field intensity and both SOD and GPX activities, meaning higher field strength was associated with lower enzyme activity.
The researchers indicated that ELF-MF could influence red blood cell antioxidant activity and might act as an oxidative stressor, possibly even at recommended exposure levels.