Alteration in cellular functions in mouse macrophages after exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields.
Frahm J, Lantow M, Lupke M, Weiss DG, Simkó M · 2006
View Original AbstractPower frequency magnetic fields activated mouse immune cells by up to 12 times normal levels without causing genetic damage.
Plain English Summary
Scientists exposed mouse immune cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines and found the cells became hyperactive. The fields increased the cells' ability to consume particles by 60% and boosted inflammatory chemicals 12-fold, suggesting everyday electrical frequencies can overstimulate immune responses.
Why This Matters
This study provides important evidence that extremely low frequency magnetic fields at power line frequencies can significantly alter immune system function. The researchers found activation effects at 1.0 mT (10,000 milligauss), which is much higher than typical residential exposures of 1-4 milligauss, but within range of occupational exposures for electrical workers or those living very close to power lines. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates biological effects without genetic damage, challenging the assumption that EMF only matters if it breaks DNA. The 12-fold increase in inflammatory chemical production is substantial and suggests that chronic EMF exposure could potentially contribute to inflammatory conditions. While this was an isolated cell study, it adds to the growing body of evidence that EMF can influence immune function at the cellular level.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 1 mG
- 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 mG for magnetic fields:
- 50Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 10Kx 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
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.
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},
}