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Extra-low-frequency magnetic fields alter cancer cells through metabolic restriction

Bioeffects Seen

Ying Li and Paul Heroux · 2014

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Exposing five cancer cell lines to extra-low-frequency magnetic fields caused chromosome loss in all of them, with a mostly flat dose-response.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed five cancer cell lines to extra-low-frequency magnetic fields in the range of 0.025 to 5 µT and examined them for karyotype changes after 6 days. All cancer cell lines lost chromosomes from magnetic field exposure, with a mostly flat dose-response. The researchers suggest these karyotype contractions are caused by magnetic field interference with mitochondria's adenosine triphosphate synthase, compensated by the action of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Constant magnetic field exposures for three weeks allowed a rising return to baseline, unperturbed karyotypes, but small increases or decreases in field strength were again capable of inducing karyotype contractions.

Why This Matters

The effects of magnetic fields on karyotypes were described as similar to those of oligomycin, an adenosine triphosphate synthase inhibitor. The karyotype contractions were amplified by metformin, an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase stimulator, and attenuated by resistin, an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibitor. Most cancer cell lines showed exceptionally wide and flat dose-responses over environmental magnetic field levels, except for erythroleukemia cells, which displayed a progressive rise from 0.025 to 0.4 µT. The researchers proposed that the biological effects of magnetic fields are connected to an alteration in the structure of water that impedes the flux of protons in adenosine triphosphate synthase channels. The authors noted these results may be environmentally important given the roles played in human physiology by adenosine triphosphate synthase and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, particularly in their links to diabetes, cancer and longevity.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.000025 - 0.005, 0.0004 mT
Exposure Duration
6 Days

Exposure Context

This study used 0.000025 - 0.005, 0.0004 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: 0.000025 - 0.005, 0.0004 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 8,000 times higher than this level

Study Details

To examine the effect of ELF-MFs on cancer cells

Five cancer cell lines were exposed to ELF-MFs within the range of 0.025-5 µT, and the cells were ex...

All cancer cells lines lost chromosomes from MF exposure, with a mostly flat dose-response. Constant...

The biological effects of MFs are connected to an alteration in the structure of water that impedes the flux of protons in ATPS channels. These results may be environmentally important, in view of the central roles played in human physiology by ATPS and AMPK, particularly in their links to diabetes, cancer and longevity.

Cite This Study
Ying Li and Paul Heroux (2014). Extra-low-frequency magnetic fields alter cancer cells through metabolic restriction Electromagn Biol Med. 2014 Dec;33(4):264-75. doi: 10.3109/15368378.2013.817334. Epub 2013 Aug 5. PMID: 23915261.
Show BibTeX
@article{heroux_2014_extralowfrequency_magnetic_fields_alter_741,
  author = {Ying Li and Paul Heroux},
  title = {Extra-low-frequency magnetic fields alter cancer cells through metabolic restriction},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23915261/},
}
PubMed: 23915261

Cited By (14 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

All cancer cell lines lost chromosomes from magnetic field exposure, with a mostly flat dose-response.
The cells were exposed to extra-low-frequency magnetic fields within the range of 0.025 to 5 µT.
Constant magnetic field exposures for three weeks allowed a rising return to baseline, unperturbed karyotypes.
The researchers suggest the karyotype contractions are caused by magnetic field interference with mitochondria's adenosine triphosphate synthase, compensated by the action of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase.
Most cancer cell lines showed a wide and flat dose-response, except for erythroleukemia cells, which displayed a progressive rise from 0.025 to 0.4 µT.