NADPH oxidase-produced superoxide mediated a 50-Hz magnetic field-induced epidermal growth factor receptor clustering
Feng B, Dai A, Chen L, Qiu L, Fu Y, Sun W. · 2016
View Original AbstractMagnetic fields from power lines trigger harmful cellular changes through increased oxidative stress, revealing a key mechanism behind EMF health effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency used in household electricity) and found that even brief exposures triggered increased production of reactive oxygen species - harmful molecules that can damage cells. The magnetic fields caused specific cellular receptors to cluster together abnormally, a process linked to various health problems including cancer development.
Why This Matters
This study provides crucial mechanistic evidence for how extremely low frequency magnetic fields - the type generated by power lines, electrical wiring, and household appliances - can trigger biological changes at the cellular level. The researchers found effects at 0.4 mT, which is higher than typical household exposures (usually 0.01-0.2 mT) but well within levels found near power lines or some electrical devices. What makes this research particularly significant is that it identifies the specific pathway through which magnetic fields cause cellular disruption: increased oxidative stress leading to abnormal receptor clustering. This isn't just correlation - it's a clear biological mechanism showing how EMF exposure translates into cellular damage. The reality is that this type of research helps explain the growing body of evidence linking EMF exposure to various health effects, from cancer to neurological disorders.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.4 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes
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
A 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) was found to induce epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering in our previous study. The aim of this work was to investigate the molecular mechanisms that mediated MF-induced EGFR clustering.
Human amniotic epithelial (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz MF. Total reactive oxygen species (ROS)...
Results showed that exposing FL cells to MF at intensity higher than 0.2 mT for 15 min enhanced tota...
Nox-produced superoxide mediated a 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGFR clustering.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2016_nadph_oxidaseproduced_superoxide_mediated_360,
author = {Feng B and Dai A and Chen L and Qiu L and Fu Y and Sun W.},
title = {NADPH oxidase-produced superoxide mediated a 50-Hz magnetic field-induced epidermal growth factor receptor clustering},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1080/09553002.2016.1206227},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2016.1206227},
}