6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Oxidative Stress

Effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on antioxidant activity in the human keratinocyte cell line NCTC 2544

Bioeffects Seen

Calcabrini C, Mancini U, De Bellis R, Diaz AR, Martinelli M, Cucchiarini L, Sestili P, Stocchi V, Potenza L. · 2017

View Original Abstract
Share:

ELF-EMF induced a slight oxidative stress in human keratinocytes that did not overwhelm the metabolic capacity of the cells or have a cytotoxic effect.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated whether ELF-EMF exposure causes significant cell damage in human keratinocytes, to support potential ELF-EMF use in regenerative medicine for skin injuries. Reactive oxygen species production was evaluated in human keratinocytes exposed for 1 H to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at field strengths from 0.25 to 2 G, and significant ROS increases resulted at 0.5 and 1 G. All significant alterations observed in the first 4 H of exposure reverted to controls 24 H after, and the exposure did not have a cytotoxic effect.

Why This Matters

In addition to ROS production, the researchers assessed glutathione content, antioxidant defense activity, and lipid peroxidation markers for different lengths of time. Antioxidant defense and membrane integrity parameters showed a different trend at the two selected magnetic fluxes, with greater sensitivity of the cells exposed to 0.5 G, especially after 1 H. The ELF-EMF-induced oxidative stress did not overwhelm the metabolic capacity of the cells or have a cytotoxic effect.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.025 to 0.2 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
1h

Exposure Context

This study used 0.025 to 0.2 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: 0.025 to 0.2 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 8 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

To support ELF-EMF use in regenerative medicine, in particular in the treatment of skin injuries, we investigated whether significant cell damage occurs after ELF-EMF exposure.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was evaluated in the human keratinocyte exposed for 1 H to ...

Analyzed parameters of antioxidant defense and membrane integrity showed a different trend at two se...

Cite This Study
Calcabrini C, Mancini U, De Bellis R, Diaz AR, Martinelli M, Cucchiarini L, Sestili P, Stocchi V, Potenza L. (2017). Effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on antioxidant activity in the human keratinocyte cell line NCTC 2544 Biotechnol Appl Biochem. 64(3):415-422, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2017_effect_of_extremely_lowfrequency_327,
  author = {Calcabrini C and Mancini U and De Bellis R and Diaz AR and Martinelli M and Cucchiarini L and Sestili P and Stocchi V and Potenza L. },
  title = {Effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on antioxidant activity in the human keratinocyte cell line NCTC 2544},
  year = {2017},
  doi = {10.1002/bab.1495},
  url = {https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bab.1495},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bab.1495

Cited By (47 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Significant ROS increases resulted at 0.5 and 1 G when human keratinocytes were exposed for 1 H to 50 Hz ELF-EMF.
All significant alterations observed in the first 4 H of exposure reverted to controls 24 H after.
The exposure did not have a cytotoxic effect and did not overwhelm the metabolic capacity of the cells.
The study was conducted to support ELF-EMF use in regenerative medicine, in particular in the treatment of skin injuries.