Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation.
Sun L, Chen L, Bai L, Xia Y, Yang X, Jiang W, Sun W. · 2018
View Original AbstractPower frequency magnetic fields trigger cancer-related cellular changes through oxidative stress at levels found near power lines.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human cells to power line frequency magnetic fields for 15 minutes and found they triggered harmful cellular changes linked to uncontrolled cell growth. The magnetic fields increased damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species, proving these everyday exposures can disrupt normal cell function.
Why This Matters
This study provides crucial mechanistic evidence for how power frequency magnetic fields can trigger cellular changes that may contribute to cancer development. The 0.4 milliTesla exposure level is significant - while higher than typical home exposures (usually 0.1-0.3 mT near appliances), it's well within ranges found near power lines or in some occupational settings. What makes this research particularly important is that it identifies the specific biological pathway: magnetic fields generate reactive oxygen species, which then activate enzymes that cause growth factor receptors to cluster abnormally. This receptor clustering is a known early step in cancer development. The fact that antioxidants completely blocked these effects suggests our cells' natural defenses can be overwhelmed by EMF exposure, supporting the growing body of evidence that these fields are not as biologically inert as once assumed.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.4 mG
- Source/Device
- 50-Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 15 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0.4 mG for magnetic fields:
- 20Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 4Kx 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
Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) could elicit biological effects including carcinogenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms by which these ELF-EMFs interact with biological system are currently unclear. Previously, we found that a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure could induce epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering and phosphorylation on cell membranes. In the present experiment, the possible roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MF-induced EGFR clustering were investigated.
Human amnion epithelial (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz MF with or without N-acetyl-l-cysteine (N...
Results showed that exposure of FL cells to a 50-Hz MF at 0.4 mT for 15 min significantly enhanced t...
The present and previous data suggest that ROS mediates the MF-induced EGFR clustering via ASMase activation.
Show BibTeX
@article{l_2018_reactive_oxygen_species_mediates_468,
author = {Sun L and Chen L and Bai L and Xia Y and Yang X and Jiang W and Sun W.},
title = {Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation.},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208},
}