Power frequency magnetic fields affect the p38 MAPK-mediated regulation of NB69 cell proliferation implication of free radicals.
Martínez MA, Úbeda A, Moreno J, Trillo MÁ · 2016
View Original AbstractPower frequency magnetic fields at 100 microtesla stimulated brain tumor cell growth through oxidative stress pathways.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human brain tumor cells (neuroblastoma) to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 100 microtesla - similar to levels near power lines - for various time periods. The magnetic field exposure triggered specific cellular pathways that increased cell proliferation, with the effects appearing to be mediated by reactive oxygen species (free radicals). This suggests that power frequency magnetic fields can stimulate abnormal cell growth through oxidative stress mechanisms.
Why This Matters
This study provides important mechanistic evidence for how extremely low frequency magnetic fields might contribute to cancer development. The 100 microtesla exposure level used here is significant because it's comparable to what you might encounter living very close to high-voltage power lines or using certain electrical appliances. The researchers identified a specific biological pathway - involving p38 kinase and reactive oxygen species - through which magnetic fields stimulate cell proliferation in brain tumor cells. What makes this particularly concerning is that the study used neuroblastoma cells, which are already cancerous, and found that magnetic field exposure made them proliferate faster. This adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that EMF exposure might not just initiate cancer, but could also accelerate its progression once it develops.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 24, 42 or 63 h, or continuously for periods of 15 to 120 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1 mG for magnetic fields:
- 5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1Kx 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
This work investigates the MF effect on the cell cycle of NB69, the participation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal (JNK) kinases in the field-induced proliferative response and the potential involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the activation of the MAPK-ERK1/2 and -p38 signaling pathways.
NB69 cultures were exposed to the 100 µT MF, either intermittently for 24, 42 or 63 h, or continuous...
Field exposure induced transient activation of p38, JNK and ERK1/2. The MF proliferative effect, whi...
Show BibTeX
@article{ma_2016_power_frequency_magnetic_fields_420,
author = {Martínez MA and Úbeda A and Moreno J and Trillo MÁ},
title = {Power frequency magnetic fields affect the p38 MAPK-mediated regulation of NB69 cell proliferation implication of free radicals.},
year = {2016},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/17/4/510},
}