Effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on antioxidant activity in the human keratinocyte cell line NCTC 2544
Calcabrini C, Mancini U, De Bellis R, Diaz AR, Martinelli M, Cucchiarini L, Sestili P, Stocchi V, Potenza L. · 2017
View Original AbstractHuman skin cells showed oxidative stress from 50 Hz EMF exposure at levels comparable to some household appliances, though effects reversed within 24 hours.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human skin cells to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields for one hour. The fields caused temporary oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) at moderate strengths, but cells recovered completely within 24 hours, suggesting no lasting harm occurs.
Why This Matters
This study provides important evidence that even relatively brief EMF exposures can trigger measurable biological responses in human cells, specifically oxidative stress in skin cells. The exposure levels tested (0.5 to 1 gauss) are within the range you might encounter from some household appliances or occupational settings, making these findings relevant to everyday exposure scenarios. While the researchers framed their work around potential therapeutic applications, the key takeaway is that EMF exposure demonstrably alters cellular function - even if temporarily. The fact that cells recovered within 24 hours doesn't negate the significance of the initial response, as repeated or prolonged exposures could potentially overwhelm these natural recovery mechanisms. This adds to the growing body of evidence showing that EMFs are bioactive at levels previously considered safe.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.025 to 0.2 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 1h
Exposure Context
This study used 0.025 to 0.2 mG for magnetic fields:
- 1.3Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 250x 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 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...
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},
}