Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on morphine analgesia and tolerance in rats.
Ozdemir E, Demirkazik A, Gursoy S, Taskıran AS, Kilinc O, Arslan G. · 2017
View Original AbstractELF magnetic fields at 5 mT enhanced morphine effectiveness and reduced tolerance in rats, showing measurable nervous system impacts.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (household electricity frequency) for 15 days while giving them morphine. The magnetic field exposure enhanced morphine's pain relief and reduced tolerance development. This suggests electromagnetic fields can influence how our nervous systems respond to pain medications.
Why This Matters
This study reveals something fascinating about how ELF magnetic fields interact with our nervous system's pain processing mechanisms. The researchers used 5 mT (milliTesla) magnetic fields, which is significantly stronger than typical household exposures but within the range of some occupational environments and certain consumer devices. What makes this research particularly intriguing is that it demonstrates ELF-EMF can modulate drug effectiveness and tolerance development, suggesting these fields have measurable neurobiological effects. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic fields aren't just passive environmental factors - they actively influence how our nervous system functions. While this particular study focused on morphine, the underlying mechanism suggests ELF exposure could potentially affect other neurological processes and drug responses. This adds another layer to our understanding of why EMF exposure matters for human health.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 5 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 30 minutes for 15 days, and a total of four times every 15 minute intervals.
Exposure Context
This study used 5 mG for magnetic fields:
- 250Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 50Kx 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
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on morphine analgesia and tolerance in rats.
In the study, 78 adult male Wistar albino rats (approximately 240 ± 12 g) were used. The application...
The maximum analgesic effect of the 5 mT magnetic field was determined on 7 days. Administration of ...
Analgesia test data demonstrated that application of ELF-EMFs to rats increases the morphine analgesia and reduces morphine tolerance.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2017_effects_of_extremely_low_688,
author = {Ozdemir E and Demirkazik A and Gursoy S and Taskıran AS and Kilinc O and Arslan G.},
title = {Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on morphine analgesia and tolerance in rats.},
year = {2017},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28836499/},
}