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Cellular detection of 50 Hz magnetic fields and weak blue light: effects on superoxide levels and genotoxicity.

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Höytö A, Herrala M, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. · 2017

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A 50 Hz magnetic field increased cytosolic superoxide production in human neuroblastoma cells, but blue light suppressed this effect.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to a 50 Hz, 100 μT magnetic field with or without a non-phototoxic level of blue light for 24 hours. The magnetic field increased cytosolic superoxide production, while blue light suppressed that effect. Mitochondrial superoxide production was reduced by both the magnetic field and blue light, but these effects were not additive. Micronucleus frequency was not affected by blue light or the magnetic field alone, but blue light, significantly when combined with the magnetic field, enhanced menadione-induced micronuclei.

Why This Matters

The study tested whether blue light was needed for magnetic field effects on superoxide levels and genotoxicity. The original simple hypothesis that blue light is needed for magnetic field effects was not supported, but interaction of MF and blue light was nevertheless observed. The researchers also studied whether the treatments altered responses to menadione, an agent that induces mitochondrial superoxide production and DNA damage. The results were described as consistent with magnetic field effects on light-independent radical reactions.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
24 h

Exposure Context

This study used 0.1 mT for magnetic 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: 0.1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 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

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.

Cite This Study
Höytö A, Herrala M, Luukkonen J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J. (2017). Cellular detection of 50 Hz magnetic fields and weak blue light: effects on superoxide levels and genotoxicity. Int J Radiat Biol, 93(6):646-652, 2017.
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},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2017.1294275

Cited By (22 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.
Cells were exposed to a 50 Hz, 100 μT magnetic field for 24 hours.
Micronucleus frequency was not affected by the magnetic field alone, though blue light combined with the magnetic field significantly enhanced menadione-induced micronuclei.
The original simple hypothesis that blue light is needed for magnetic field effects was not supported, but interaction of MF and blue light was nevertheless observed.
Blue light suppressed the increase in cytosolic superoxide production that the magnetic field caused.