Exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field induced mitochondrial permeability transition through the ROS/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
Feng B, Qiu L, Ye C, Chen L, Fu Y, Sun W. · 2016
View Original AbstractMagnetic fields at household levels damaged cellular powerhouses through oxidative stress pathways that antioxidants could block.
Plain English Summary
Chinese researchers exposed human cells to magnetic fields at levels similar to those found near power lines and appliances (0.4 mT for 60 minutes). They discovered that this exposure damaged the powerhouses of cells (mitochondria) by triggering a harmful chain reaction involving oxidative stress. The damage occurred through a specific biological pathway that could be blocked with antioxidants, suggesting the effects are real and measurable.
Why This Matters
This study provides crucial mechanistic evidence for how everyday magnetic field exposures can damage cellular function. The 0.4 mT exposure level tested here is readily encountered in homes near electrical panels, under power lines, or close to high-current appliances. What makes this research particularly significant is that it identifies the exact biological pathway through which magnetic fields cause mitochondrial damage. The fact that antioxidants could prevent the damage suggests our cells' natural defense systems are being overwhelmed by EMF exposure. This adds to a growing body of evidence showing that the magnetic fields we encounter daily aren't as biologically inert as regulatory agencies assume. The mitochondrial effects documented here could help explain why some people report fatigue and other symptoms in high-EMF environments.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.4 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 60 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0.4 mG for magnetic fields:
- 20Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 4Kx 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
To investigate the biological effects of a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) on mitochondrial permeability.
Human amniotic epithelial cells were exposed to MF (50 Hz, 0.4 mT) for different durations. Mitochon...
Exposure to the MF at 0.4 mT for 60 min transiently induced mitochondrial permeability transition (M...
MPT induced by MF exposure was mediated through the ROS/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2016_exposure_to_a_50hz_359,
author = {Feng B and Qiu L and Ye C and Chen L and Fu Y and Sun W.},
title = {Exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field induced mitochondrial permeability transition through the ROS/GSK-3β signaling pathway.},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.3109/09553002.2016.1135261},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553002.2016.1135261},
}