Extremely low frequency magnetic fields and the promotion of H2O2-induced cell death in HL-60 cells.
Ding GR, Nakahara T, Hirose H, Koyama S, Takashima Y, Miyakoshi J. · 2004
View Original AbstractPower-frequency magnetic fields can accelerate cell death when combined with other cellular stressors, potentially weakening our natural defenses.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human leukemia cells to 60 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electrical current) while also treating them with hydrogen peroxide, a chemical that damages cells. They found that the magnetic field exposure made the cells die faster and in greater numbers compared to hydrogen peroxide treatment alone. This suggests that power-frequency magnetic fields can amplify cellular damage caused by other harmful substances.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a concerning synergistic effect where 60 Hz magnetic fields - the same frequency emitted by household wiring, appliances, and power lines - amplify cellular damage from oxidative stress. The 5 milliTesla exposure used here is extremely high compared to typical home environments (which range from 0.01 to 0.2 milliTesla), but the principle demonstrated is troubling: EMF exposure may make our cells more vulnerable to other environmental stressors. What makes this research particularly significant is that it identifies specific molecular pathways (caspase-7 activation and DNA repair enzyme disruption) through which magnetic fields enhance cell death. This adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that EMF exposure doesn't just cause direct biological effects, but can also weaken our cellular defenses against other toxins and stressors we encounter daily.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 5 mG
- Source/Device
- 60 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 24h
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
To test whether exposure to an extremely low frequency magnetic field (60 Hz, 5 mT) affects hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐induced cell death in human leukaemia HL‐60 cells.
Cells were treated with H2O2 with or without exposure to an extremely low frequency magnetic fields....
Simultaneous treatment with exposure to the magnetic field and H2O2 (85 or 100 µM) for 24 h increase...
The data suggest that although the magnetic field itself cannot induce apoptosis and necrosis, it exerts a promoting effect on H2O2‐induced cell death, and it demonstrates that caspase‐7 as well as poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase might be involved in this process.
Show BibTeX
@article{gr_2004_extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_347,
author = {Ding GR and Nakahara T and Hirose H and Koyama S and Takashima Y and Miyakoshi J.},
title = {Extremely low frequency magnetic fields and the promotion of H2O2-induced cell death in HL-60 cells.},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1080/09553000410001679802},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000410001679802},
}