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Oxidative Stress

Protective properties of Myrtus communis extract against oxidative effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on rat plasma and hemoglobin.

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Seif F, Bayatiani MR, Ansarihadipour H, Habibi G, Sadelaji S · 2018

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One month of magnetic field exposure damaged blood proteins and antioxidant systems in rats, effects that were preventable with plant compounds.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to magnetic fields from power lines for 2 hours daily over a month, finding significant blood damage and reduced antioxidant defenses. Myrtle plant extract prevented these harmful effects, suggesting magnetic field exposure causes oxidative stress but natural compounds may offer protection.

Why This Matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that ELF magnetic fields can trigger oxidative stress at the cellular level. The 0.7 mT exposure level used here is actually quite moderate - comparable to what you might experience standing directly under high-voltage power lines, though higher than typical household exposures (which range from 0.01-0.2 mT). What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates measurable biochemical changes in blood components after just one month of exposure. The fact that a plant extract could prevent these effects suggests the damage is indeed caused by oxidative stress, a mechanism that's been proposed in numerous EMF studies. While this doesn't prove that everyday magnetic field exposure causes health problems in humans, it does show that biological systems can be affected by these fields in ways that could potentially impact health over time.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.7 mG
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
2 hours a day for 1 month

Exposure Context

This study used 0.7 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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.7 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Slight Concern rangeFCC limit is 2,857x 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

This study investigates the protective properties of Myrtus communis extract against the oxidative effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELFMF). Also, this study is aimed to analyze the conformational changes of hemoglobin, oxidative damages to plasma proteins and antioxidant power of plasma following exposure to ELFMF.

Adult male rats were divided into 3 groups: (1) control, (2) ELFMF exposure, and (3) ELFMF exposure ...

Exposure to ELFMF decreased the FRAP which was in concomitant with a significant increase in plasma ...

Myrtus communis extract enhances the ability of erythrocytes and plasma to deal with oxidative conditions during exposure to ELFMF. Also, ANN analysis can predict the most important parameters in relation to Hb structure during oxidative stress.

Cite This Study
Seif F, Bayatiani MR, Ansarihadipour H, Habibi G, Sadelaji S (2018). Protective properties of Myrtus communis extract against oxidative effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on rat plasma and hemoglobin. Int J Radiat Biol. 2018 Nov 29:1-22. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1542182.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2018_protective_properties_of_myrtus_457,
  author = {Seif F and Bayatiani MR and Ansarihadipour H and Habibi G and Sadelaji S},
  title = {Protective properties of Myrtus communis extract against oxidative effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on rat plasma and hemoglobin.},
  year = {2018},
  doi = {10.1080/09553002.2019.1542182},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2019.1542182},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1542182

Cited By (1 paper)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, myrtle (Myrtus communis) extract completely prevented blood damage from magnetic field exposure in rats. The 2018 study found that while 50 Hz magnetic fields significantly damaged blood proteins and reduced antioxidant defenses, myrtle extract restored normal blood function and protected against oxidative stress.
Yes, 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines cause significant hemoglobin damage. Researchers found that 2-hour daily exposure for one month increased damaged hemoglobin forms (methemoglobin and hemichrome) and altered protein structure, indicating oxidative stress in red blood cells.
Blood damage from 50 Hz magnetic fields becomes significant after one month of 2-hour daily exposures. The study showed decreased antioxidant capacity and increased protein damage markers in rat blood after this exposure period, suggesting cumulative oxidative effects over time.
Key blood markers include reduced FRAP (antioxidant capacity), increased protein carbonyl levels, and elevated methemoglobin and hemichrome concentrations. The study also found altered hemoglobin light absorption patterns at specific wavelengths (340nm, 420nm, 542nm, 577nm) indicating structural protein damage.
Yes, 50 Hz electromagnetic field exposure significantly reduces blood antioxidant capacity. The study measured decreased FRAP values, indicating weakened ability to neutralize free radicals. This reduction in antioxidant defenses occurred alongside increased oxidative damage markers in plasma and red blood cells.