The 50 Hz (10 mT) sinusoidal magnetic field: effects on stress-related behavior of rats.
Korpinar MA, Kalkan MT, Tuncel H. · 2012
View Original AbstractRats exposed to power-frequency magnetic fields for 21 days showed significantly increased anxiety and stress behaviors.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as household electrical wiring) for 21 days and measured their anxiety levels using standard behavioral tests. The exposed rats showed significantly higher anxiety and stress-related behaviors compared to unexposed rats, spending much less time in open, exposed areas of test mazes. This suggests that prolonged exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields may increase stress responses in the brain.
Why This Matters
This study adds to growing evidence that extremely low frequency magnetic fields can affect brain function and behavior, even at exposure levels found in some homes and workplaces. The 10 mT exposure level used here is higher than typical household exposures (which range from 0.01-1 mT near appliances), but it's within the range workers might encounter near power lines or industrial equipment. What makes this research particularly noteworthy is its focus on anxiety and stress responses rather than just cellular damage. The brain's stress response system appears sensitive to EMF exposure, which could help explain why some people report feeling anxious or agitated around certain electrical equipment. The 21-day exposure period also suggests these aren't just temporary effects but potentially lasting changes in brain function.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 10 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 21 Days
Exposure Context
This study used 10 mG for magnetic fields:
- 500Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 100Kx 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
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 (Tab. 2, Fig. 9, Ref. 19).
Show BibTeX
@article{ma_2012_the_50_hz_10_666,
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://europepmc.org/article/med/22979905},
}