Cellular detection of 50 Hz magnetic fields and weak blue light: effects on superoxide levels and genotoxicity.
Höytö A, Herrala M, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. · 2017
View Original AbstractMagnetic fields at 100 microtesla increased cellular damage in brain cells, showing effects occur without light at levels comparable to household appliances.
Plain English Summary
Finnish researchers exposed human brain cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines for 24 hours. The fields increased harmful superoxide molecules in cells and enhanced DNA damage when combined with blue light, showing magnetic fields can affect cells independently of light exposure.
Why This Matters
This research adds important nuance to our understanding of how extremely low frequency magnetic fields affect cellular health. The 100 microtesla exposure level used here is significant because it's well within the range of everyday exposures - about 10 times higher than typical home background levels but comparable to what you'd experience near some appliances or power lines. What makes this study particularly valuable is that it demonstrates magnetic field effects occur through light-independent mechanisms, meaning these cellular changes can happen regardless of lighting conditions. The finding that magnetic fields increased oxidative stress (harmful superoxide molecules) aligns with a growing body of research showing that EMF exposure can disrupt normal cellular processes. While this was a laboratory study using isolated cells rather than whole organisms, it provides mechanistic evidence for how magnetic fields might contribute to biological effects at exposure levels people actually encounter in daily life.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 24 h
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1 mG for magnetic fields:
- 5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
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 Details
We tested the hypothesis that the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields (MFs) on superoxide levels and genotoxicity depend on the presence of blue light.
Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were exposed to a 50 Hz, 100 μT MF with or without non-phototoxic ...
MF (without blue light) increased cytosolic O2• - production and blue light suppressed this effect. ...
The original simple hypothesis (blue light is needed for MF effects) was not supported, but interaction of MF and blue light was nevertheless observed. The results are consistent with MF effects on light-independent radical reactions.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2017_cellular_detection_of_50_386,
author = {Höytö A and Herrala M and Luukkonen J and Juutilainen J and Naarala J.},
title = {Cellular detection of 50 Hz magnetic fields and weak blue light: effects on superoxide levels and genotoxicity.},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1080/09553002.2017.1294275},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2017.1294275},
}