Modulation of redox status and calcium handling by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in C2C12 muscle cells: A real-time, single-cell approach.
Morabito C, Rovetta F, Bizzarri M, Mazzoleni G, Fanò G, Mariggiò MA · 2010
View Original AbstractMuscle cells showed oxidative damage and disrupted calcium function after just minutes of EMF exposure at levels common in homes.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed muscle cells to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (the type from power lines and household wiring) for short periods and measured cellular stress responses. The EMFs triggered increased production of harmful reactive oxygen species, disrupted the cells' energy-producing mitochondria, and altered calcium levels that control muscle function. These changes suggest that even brief EMF exposure can disrupt fundamental cellular processes in muscle tissue.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that ELF-EMFs can trigger oxidative stress and disrupt cellular function at the most basic level. What makes this research particularly significant is that the exposure levels (0.1 to 1 mT) and frequency (50 Hz) directly mirror what you encounter from power lines, household wiring, and many electrical appliances. The fact that researchers observed measurable cellular damage after just 5 to 30 minutes of exposure should give us pause about chronic, daily exposure levels. The disruption of calcium homeostasis is especially concerning because calcium regulation is critical for proper muscle function, including your heart muscle. While this was an in vitro study using isolated cells, it adds to the growing body of evidence that EMFs can trigger oxidative stress pathways that underlie many chronic health conditions.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1 and 1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 5 min or 30 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1 and 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
Here, we applied a single-cell approach to study the effects of short-term exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on muscle cell differentiation and function using C2C12 cells as an in vitro model of the skeletal muscle phenotype.
Our focus was on markers of oxidative stress and calcium (Ca2+) handling, two interrelated cellular ...
Collectively, our data reveal that ELF-EMFs (1) induced reactive oxygen species production in myobla...
In conclusion, our data support a possible link between exposure to ELF-EMFs and modification of the cellular redox state, which could, in turn, increase the level of intracellular Ca2+and thus modulate the metabolic activity of C2C12 cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2010_modulation_of_redox_status_431,
author = {Morabito C and Rovetta F and Bizzarri M and Mazzoleni G and Fanò G and Mariggiò MA},
title = {Modulation of redox status and calcium handling by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in C2C12 muscle cells: A real-time, single-cell approach.},
year = {2010},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S089158490900759X},
}