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DNA & Genetic Damage389 citations

Magnetic-field-induced DNA strand breaks in brain cells of the rat.

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Lai H, Singh NP · 2004

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Exposing rats to a 60-Hz magnetic field at 0.01 mT for 24 hours caused significant increases in DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated how magnetic field exposure affected brain cell DNA in rats. Exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field at 0.01 mT for 24 hours caused a significant increase in DNA single- and double-strand breaks, and prolonging the exposure to 48 hours caused a larger increase. Acute magnetic field exposure also increased apoptosis and necrosis of brain cells in the rat.

Why This Matters

The researchers found that the DNA damage effect appeared to be cumulative, since a longer exposure produced a larger increase in strand breaks. Treatment with 7-nitroindazole, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, also blocked the strand breaks, which the researchers said further supports a role of free radicals in the effects of magnetic fields. Treatment with the iron chelator deferiprone also blocked the effects of magnetic fields on brain cell DNA, suggesting the involvement of iron. The researchers hypothesized that the magnetic field initiates an iron-mediated process that increases free radical formation in brain cells, leading to DNA strand breaks and cell death.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.01 mT
Source/Device
60-Hz
Exposure Duration
24 hr and 48 h

Exposure Context

This study used 0.01 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: 0.01 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 20 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

In the present study, effects of magnetic field exposure on brain cell DNA in the rat were further investigated.

Exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field at 0.01 mT for 24 hr caused a significant increase in DNA single-...

We hypothesize that exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field initiates an iron-mediated process (e.g., the Fenton reaction) that increases free radical formation in brain cells, leading to DNA strand breaks and cell death. This hypothesis could have an important implication for the possible health effects associated with exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields in the public and occupational environments.

Cite This Study
Lai H, Singh NP (2004). Magnetic-field-induced DNA strand breaks in brain cells of the rat. Environ Health Perspect. 112(6):687-694, 2004.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2004_magneticfieldinduced_dna_strand_breaks_405,
  author = {Lai H and Singh NP},
  title = {Magnetic-field-induced DNA strand breaks in brain cells of the rat.},
  year = {2004},
  doi = {10.1289/ehp.6355},
  url = {https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/abs/10.1289/ehp.6355},
}
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.6355

Cited By (389 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study used a 60-Hz magnetic field at 0.01 mT.
Prolonging the exposure to 48 hours caused a larger increase in strand breaks, which the researchers said indicates the effect is cumulative.
Blocking free radical activity with Trolox or 7-nitroindazole also blocked the DNA strand breaks, which the researchers said further supports a role of free radicals on the effects of magnetic fields.
Acute magnetic field exposure increased apoptosis and necrosis of brain cells in the rat.
The researchers hypothesized that exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field initiates an iron-mediated process that increases free radical formation in brain cells, leading to DNA strand breaks and cell death.