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Alteration in cellular functions in mouse macrophages after exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields.

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Frahm J, Lantow M, Lupke M, Weiss DG, Simkó M · 2006

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Exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields stimulated immune cell activity in mouse macrophages but showed no signs of DNA damage.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect cellular functions and immunologic parameters of mouse macrophages. Magnetic field exposure led to a 1.6-fold increased uptake of latex beads in exposed cells compared to controls after 45 minutes. IL-1β formation increased significantly after 4 hours and reached a maximum 12.3-fold increase after 24 hours compared to controls. All tested flux densities significantly stimulated free radical formation, and no significant differences in micronucleus formation were found in exposed cells.

Why This Matters

The study tested several cellular outcomes in mouse macrophages, including phagocytic activity, free radical release, a pro-inflammatory protein called IL-1β, and micronucleus formation as a marker of DNA damage. Flux densities ranging from 0.05 up to 1.0 mT were tested on free radical formation for 45 minutes. The elevated IL-1β release was demonstrated after 24 hours of exposure at 1.0 mT. Despite the activation effects, the researchers found no significant differences in micronucleus formation or irregular mitotic activities in exposed cells.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
45 or 90 min, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 or 48 h

Exposure Context

This study used 1 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: 1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 5 times the FCC limit
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

The aim of the present study is to investigate whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) affect certain cellular functions and immunologic parameters of mouse macrophages.

MF-exposure led to an increased phagocytic activity after 45 min, shown as a 1.6-fold increased upta...

Here, we demonstrate the capacity of ELF-EMF to stimulate physiological cell functions in mouse macrophages shown by the significantly elevated phagocytic activity, free radical release, and IL-1β production suggesting the cell activation capacity of ELF-EMF in the absence of any genotoxic effects.

Cite This Study
Frahm J, Lantow M, Lupke M, Weiss DG, Simkó M (2006). Alteration in cellular functions in mouse macrophages after exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields. J Cell Biochem. 99(1):168-177, 2006.
Show BibTeX
@article{j_2006_alteration_in_cellular_functions_366,
  author = {Frahm J and Lantow M and Lupke M and Weiss DG and Simkó M},
  title = {Alteration in cellular functions in mouse macrophages after exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields.},
  year = {2006},
  doi = {10.1002/jcb.20920},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcb.20920},
}
DOI: 10.1002/jcb.20920

Cited By (108 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study examined mouse macrophages, a type of immune cell.
Exposure led to a 1.6-fold increased uptake of latex beads in exposed cells compared to controls after 45 minutes.
The data showed no significant differences in micronucleus formation or irregular mitotic activities in exposed cells.
IL-1β formation was significantly increased after 4 hours and reached a maximum 12.3-fold increase after 24 hours compared to controls.
The researchers concluded that ELF-EMF has the capacity to stimulate physiological cell functions, including phagocytic activity, free radical release, and IL-1β production, in the absence of any genotoxic effects.