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DNA & Genetic Damage

Evaluation of cell viability, DNA single-strand breaks, and nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW264 exposed to a 50-Hz magnetic field.

No Effects Found

Nakayama M, Nakamura A, Hondou T, Miyata H · 2016

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Magnetic field exposure amplified DNA damage in immune cells already stressed by bacterial toxins, suggesting EMFs may worsen harm during illness.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed immune cells called macrophages to 50-Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for 24 hours to see if it would damage their DNA. They found that magnetic field exposure alone caused no harm, but when cells were first activated by bacterial toxins, the magnetic field exposure increased DNA damage and reduced cell survival.

Exposure Information

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

The study examined exposure from: 50-Hz Duration: 24 h

Study Details

To determine whether this hypothesis holds in macrophage RAW264 cells, we measured DNA single-strand breaks (SSB), cell viability, and nitric oxide (NO) production in cells with or without exposure to 0.5-mT, 50-Hz magnetic fields for 24 h and with or without simultaneous stimulation via the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Macrophages stimulated with 10 ng/ml LPS for 1 h were exposed to or not exposed to a magnetic field ...

The 50-Hz magnetic field enhanced DNA SSB and decreased cell viability only in the LPS-stimulated ma...

Co-stimulation of the cell with LPS and a 50-Hz magnetic field promoted SSB and lowered cell viability, but these were not mediated by LPS-induced NO production.

Cite This Study
Nakayama M, Nakamura A, Hondou T, Miyata H (2016). Evaluation of cell viability, DNA single-strand breaks, and nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW264 exposed to a 50-Hz magnetic field. Int J Radiat Biol. 92(10):583-589, 2016.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2016_evaluation_of_cell_viability_2857,
  author = {Nakayama M and Nakamura A and Hondou T and Miyata H},
  title = {Evaluation of cell viability, DNA single-strand breaks, and nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW264 exposed to a 50-Hz magnetic field. },
  year = {2016},
  doi = {10.1080/09553002.2016.1206224},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2016.1206224},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2016.1206224

Cited By (17 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Power line magnetic fields alone don't damage DNA in immune cells, according to a 2016 study. However, when immune cells were already fighting infection, the same magnetic field exposure increased DNA breaks and reduced cell survival by about 20%.
A 50 Hz magnetic field doesn't harm healthy cells directly. Research shows problems only occur when cells are already stressed by bacterial toxins. In that compromised state, magnetic field exposure can worsen DNA damage and cell death.
Power line magnetic fields don't affect normal immune cells. But when immune cells called macrophages are activated to fight bacteria, simultaneous magnetic field exposure increases their DNA damage and reduces their ability to survive the immune response.
DNA damage from 50 Hz magnetic fields depends on your cells' current state. Healthy cells show no damage, but cells already fighting infection experience increased DNA breaks when exposed to these magnetic fields for 24 hours.
Power line EMF doesn't interfere with DNA in normal cells. The 2016 study found magnetic fields only cause DNA strand breaks in immune cells that are simultaneously responding to bacterial infections, suggesting a synergistic harmful effect.