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The effect of weak 50 Hz magnetic fields on the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro

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Zmyslony M, Rajkowska E, Mamrot P, Politanski P, Jajte J · 2004

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Only rat lymphocytes exposed to a 40 μT 50 Hz magnetic field aligned with Earth's static field showed a decrease in free oxygen radicals.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested whether weak 50 Hz magnetic fields affect the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro. Rat lymphocytes were exposed for one hour to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 20, 40, or 200 μT, with the field axis either along or crosswise to Earth's static magnetic field. Only at 40 μT, when the field was directed along Earth's static magnetic field, was there a decrease in fluorescence compared to non-exposed samples.

Why This Matters

Oxygen radicals were measured using fluorimetry with a DCF-DA fluorescent probe, and iron ions were added as a stimulator of oxidation processes. The researchers also tested whether the direction of the magnetic field relative to Earth's static field mattered, using coils oriented either along or crosswise to it. The researchers suggested their observation seems to confirm that low level power frequency magnetic fields affect oxidative processes in living biological cells. They also suggested the effect can be explained by the radical pair mechanism.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.02, 0.04, 0.2 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 0.02, 0.04, 0.2 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: 0.02, 0.04, 0.2 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 10 times higher than this level
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 work was verification of the hypothesis that weak power frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields (MF) affected the number of free oxygen radicals in living biological cells and that these changes could be qualitatively explained by the radical pair mechanism.

The experiments were performed on rat lymphocytes. One-hour exposure to 50 Hz MF at 20, 40, or 200 μ...

Only in the lymphocytes exposed at 40 μT MF directed along the Earth's static MF there was a decreas...

Our observation seems to confirm the hypothesis that low level power frequency MF affects oxidative processes which occur in living biological cells and that this effect can be explained by the radical pair mechanism.

Cite This Study
Zmyslony M, Rajkowska E, Mamrot P, Politanski P, Jajte J (2004). The effect of weak 50 Hz magnetic fields on the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro Bioelectromagnetics. 25(8):607-612, 2004a.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2004_the_effect_of_weak_492,
  author = {Zmyslony M and Rajkowska E and Mamrot P and Politanski P and Jajte J},
  title = {The effect of weak 50 Hz magnetic fields on the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro},
  year = {2004},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20045},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20045},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20045

Cited By (34 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The experiments were performed on rat lymphocytes.
A decrease in fluorescence was found only in lymphocytes exposed at 40 μT, when the field was directed along Earth's static magnetic field.
Oxygen radicals were measured by fluorimetry using a DCF-DA fluorescent probe.
The researchers suggested the effect can be explained by the radical pair mechanism.
One-hour exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields was performed at flux densities of 20, 40, or 200 μT.