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Cellular Effects

Effects of static magnetic fields on the growth of various types of human cells.

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Sullivan K, Balin AK, Allen RG · 2011

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Static magnetic fields reduced human cell growth by 20% and increased cellular stress, showing that magnetic exposure can disrupt basic cellular functions.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Scientists exposed human cells to magnetic fields for two weeks and found cell growth decreased by up to 20% in lung and skin cells, while increasing cellular damage markers by 37%. This suggests magnetic field exposure can disrupt normal cell function and growth.

Why This Matters

This controlled laboratory study adds to mounting evidence that magnetic field exposure can interfere with fundamental cellular processes. The magnetic field strengths used (35-120 millitesla) are thousands of times stronger than typical household exposures but comparable to what you might encounter with some medical devices or industrial equipment. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates cell-type specific responses - some cells showed clear growth inhibition and oxidative stress, while others appeared unaffected. This selective vulnerability helps explain why EMF health effects can be so variable between individuals and tissues. The finding that oxidative stress peaked during the critical cell attachment phase suggests that timing of exposure matters as much as intensity.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
35 to 120 mG

Exposure Context

This study used 35 to 120 mG 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: 35 to 120 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern rangeFCC limit is 57x higher than this level

Study Details

The effects of a static magnetic field (SMF) on the proliferation of various types of human cells were determined.

All cultures were maintained at 37 °C throughout the experiment. SMF was generated by placing two ma...

Exposure to SMF significantly decreased initial attachment of fibroblasts and decreased subsequent g...

These results indicate that exposure to SMF has significant biological effects in some, but not all types of human cells.

Cite This Study
Sullivan K, Balin AK, Allen RG (2011). Effects of static magnetic fields on the growth of various types of human cells. . Bioelectromagnetics. 32(2):140-147, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2011_effects_of_static_magnetic_467,
  author = {Sullivan K and Balin AK and Allen RG},
  title = {Effects of static magnetic fields on the growth of various types of human cells.},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20624},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20624},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20624

Cited By (55 papers)

View all 55 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, magnetic fields can significantly affect cell growth. A 2011 study found that magnetic field exposure decreased growth by up to 20% in human lung and skin cells over two weeks, while increasing cellular damage markers by 37%.
Research suggests magnetic fields can harm lung cells. Scientists exposed human fetal lung cells to magnetic fields and found significantly decreased cell attachment and growth compared to unexposed cells, with effects appearing larger than in other cell types.
Yes, magnetic fields can cause cellular damage. A study found that magnetic field exposure increased oxidant production by 37% in human lung cells during the first 18 hours, indicating increased cellular stress and potential damage.
Magnetic field exposure risks include reduced cell growth and increased cellular damage. Research shows some human cells experience up to 20% growth reduction and 37% increased damage markers, though effects vary significantly between different cell types.
Magnetic fields can negatively impact skin cells by reducing their growth and attachment ability. A two-week study found that human adult skin fibroblasts showed significantly decreased initial attachment and subsequent growth when exposed to magnetic fields.