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The 50 Hz (10 mT) sinusoidal magnetic field: effects on stress-related behavior of rats.

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Korpinar MA, Kalkan MT, Tuncel H. · 2012

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This study shows that 21-day exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields significantly increases anxiety-like behavior in rats at levels higher than typical home exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) at 10 milliTesla for 21 days and measured their behavior using standard anxiety tests. The exposed rats showed significantly more anxiety and stress-related behaviors, spending much less time in open, exposed areas compared to unexposed rats. This suggests that prolonged exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields may increase anxiety levels.

Why This Matters

This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how power-frequency magnetic fields affect brain function and behavior. The 10 milliTesla exposure level used here is extremely high compared to typical household exposures, which usually range from 0.1 to 1 milliTesla near appliances. However, the finding that magnetic fields can alter stress responses and anxiety levels is significant because it demonstrates measurable neurological effects from EMF exposure. The research used well-established behavioral tests that are standard in neuroscience research, lending credibility to the results. What this means for you is that even non-thermal EMF exposures can influence brain chemistry and behavior patterns, supporting the growing body of evidence that EMFs affect nervous system function beyond just heating tissue.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
10 mG
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
21 days

Exposure Context

This study used 10 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: 10 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern rangeFCC limit is 200x 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 purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral changes induced by 50 Hz, 10 mT flux density Sinusoidal Magnetic Field (MF).

Seventy-six young adult male Wistar albino rats were used in the study. They were separated into two...

In the hole-board system parameters there were no statistically significant differences between the ...

Our results suggest that after 21 days, a continuous exposure to extremely low frequency of magnetic field (50 Hz, 10 mT) has no significant effect on activity and exploration activity but significantly induces stress and anxiety-related behavior in rats.

Cite This Study
Korpinar MA, Kalkan MT, Tuncel H. (2012). The 50 Hz (10 mT) sinusoidal magnetic field: effects on stress-related behavior of rats. Bratisl Lek Listy. 113(9):521-524, 2012.
Show BibTeX
@article{ma_2012_the_50_hz_10_268,
  author = {Korpinar MA and Kalkan MT and Tuncel H. },
  title = {The 50 Hz (10 mT) sinusoidal magnetic field: effects on stress-related behavior of rats.},
  year = {2012},
  
  url = {https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-50-Hz-%2810-mT%29-sinusoidal-magnetic-field%3A-on-of-Korpinar-Kalkan/45271d91a062a5954840c46220af8cf4da99ebd2?p2df},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, rats exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 10 milliTesla for 21 days showed significantly increased anxiety and stress-related behaviors. The exposed rats spent much less time in open areas (12% vs 34% of total time) compared to unexposed rats, indicating heightened anxiety levels.
Research shows that 21-day exposure to power line frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz, 10 mT) significantly increased stress and anxiety-related behaviors in rats. While exploration activity remained normal, the animals demonstrated clear behavioral changes consistent with elevated stress responses.
A 2012 study found that 21 days of continuous exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 10 milliTesla was sufficient to produce significant anxiety and stress-related behavioral changes in rats, though exploration and general activity levels remained unchanged.
Researchers used elevated plus maze testing to measure anxiety behavior in rats exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields. The test revealed that EMF-exposed rats spent significantly less time in open arms, indicating increased anxiety, while hole-board exploration tests showed no differences.
A study using 10 milliTesla 50 Hz magnetic fields found this strength sufficient to cause significant anxiety and stress behaviors in rats after 21 days of exposure. This field strength is much higher than typical household power line exposures but demonstrates biological effects.