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Biophoton emission of MDCK cell with hydrogen peroxide and 60 Hz AC magnetic field.

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Cheun BS, Yi SH, Baik KY, Lim JK, Yoo JS, Shin HW, Soh KS · 2007

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60 Hz magnetic fields from household electricity altered cellular stress responses in kidney cells, suggesting power frequency EMF isn't biologically inert.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed canine kidney cells to a 60 Hz magnetic field (the same frequency as household electricity) while measuring their light emission when stressed by hydrogen peroxide. The magnetic field altered how cells responded to oxidative stress, changing the pattern of light they emitted. This suggests that power frequency magnetic fields can influence cellular stress responses at the biochemical level.

Why This Matters

This study provides important evidence that 60 Hz magnetic fields - the frequency of electrical power in North America - can alter cellular biochemistry. The researchers found that magnetic field exposure changed how kidney cells responded to oxidative stress, a fundamental process linked to aging, disease, and cellular damage. What makes this particularly relevant is that the 60 Hz frequency is exactly what you're exposed to from household wiring, appliances, and power lines. The study demonstrates that even at the cellular level, power frequency magnetic fields aren't biologically neutral - they're actively influencing biochemical processes. While this research focused on cells in laboratory conditions rather than whole organisms, it adds to the growing body of evidence that our electrical environment affects living systems in measurable ways.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1.4 mG
Source/Device
60 Hz AC Magnetic Field
Exposure Duration
2 h up to 3 h 40 min

Exposure Context

This study used 1.4 mG 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 ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1.4 mGExtreme Concern5 mGFCC Limit2,000 mGEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1,429x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

This study was performed to study biophoton charcteristics (ultraweak photon emission) of canine kidney cells under the influence of hydrogen peroxide with and without exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field.

We studied biophoton characteristics of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells under the influence o...

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Cite This Study
Cheun BS, Yi SH, Baik KY, Lim JK, Yoo JS, Shin HW, Soh KS (2007). Biophoton emission of MDCK cell with hydrogen peroxide and 60 Hz AC magnetic field. J Environ Biol. 28(4):735-740, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{bs_2007_biophoton_emission_of_mdck_330,
  author = {Cheun BS and Yi SH and Baik KY and Lim JK and Yoo JS and Shin HW and Soh KS},
  title = {Biophoton emission of MDCK cell with hydrogen peroxide and 60 Hz AC magnetic field.},
  year = {2007},
  
  url = {http://jeb.co.in/journal_issues/200710_oct07/paper_07.pdf},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed canine kidney cells to a 60 Hz magnetic field (the same frequency as household electricity) while measuring their light emission when stressed by hydrogen peroxide. The magnetic field altered how cells responded to oxidative stress, changing the pattern of light they emitted. This suggests that power frequency magnetic fields can influence cellular stress responses at the biochemical level.