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Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on circadian rhythm control in mice.

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Lundberg L, Sienkiewicz Z, Anthony DC, Broom KA. · 2019

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In mice, 50 Hz magnetic fields did not significantly affect the acute light response detectable in the adrenal response, though a decrease in locomotor activity was observed.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male C57BL/6J mice for 30 min to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 580 μT, blue LED light at 700 lux, both, or neither, to test whether power frequency magnetic fields can influence circadian rhythm control. The magnetic fields did not modulate the response to light and had no significant effect on adrenal markers on their own, though they were associated with a decrease in locomotor activity (P < 0.03). Gene expression of cry1 and cry2 in the adrenals, liver, and hippocampus was not affected by any of the exposures (P > 0.05).

Why This Matters

Exposures began at zeitgeber time 14, which is 2 h into the dark period. Blue light was a potent zeitgeber in the experiment, driving clear changes in multiple adrenal and behavioral measures compared to unexposed controls. The magnetic fields did not add to or subtract from that light response, suggesting they did not interact with the light-sensing pathway measured here. The one finding associated with magnetic-field exposure alone was a decrease in locomotor activity, with no other significant effects on the measures tested.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.58 mT
Source/Device
50-Hz
Exposure Duration
30 min starting at zeitgeber time 14 (ZT14, 2 h into the dark period of the day)

Exposure Context

This study used 0.58 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: 0.58 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 3 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 this study is to observe Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on circadian rhythm control in mice.

To study this possibility, 8-12-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were exposed for 30 min starting at zeit...

Our experiments revealed an acute adrenal response to blue light, in terms of increased adrenal per1...

In conclusion, these results suggest that 50 Hz magnetic fields do not significantly affect the acute light response to a degree that can be detected in the adrenal response

Cite This Study
Lundberg L, Sienkiewicz Z, Anthony DC, Broom KA. (2019). Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on circadian rhythm control in mice. Bioelectromagnetics. 40(4):250-259, 2019.
Show BibTeX
@article{l_2019_effects_of_50_hz_678,
  author = {Lundberg L and Sienkiewicz Z and Anthony DC and Broom KA.},
  title = {Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on circadian rhythm control in mice.},
  year = {2019},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30945762/},
}
PubMed: 30945762

Cited By (10 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Mice were exposed for 30 min to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 580 μT, blue LED light at 700 lux, both combined, or neither.
The magnetic fields appeared to have no modulating effect on the response to light.
Blue light increased adrenal per1 gene expression, raised serum corticosterone levels, increased time spent sleeping, and decreased locomotor activity, all at P < 0.0001 compared to unexposed controls.
Gene expression of the cryptochromes cry1 and cry2 in the adrenals, liver, and hippocampus was not affected by exposures (P > 0.05).