Effect of stationary magnetic field strengths of 150 and 200 mT on reactive oxygen species production in soybean
Shine MB, Guruprasad KN, Anand A · 2012
View Original AbstractMagnetic fields triggered harmful oxidative stress in living cells, disrupting natural antioxidant defenses at field strengths far above everyday exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed soybean seeds to static magnetic fields of 150 and 200 mT (milliTesla) for one hour and found the treatment significantly increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) - harmful molecules that can damage cells. The magnetic exposure disrupted the plants' natural antioxidant defenses while triggering enzymes that produce more oxidative stress. This study provides biological evidence that magnetic fields can alter cellular chemistry in living organisms.
Why This Matters
This study matters because it demonstrates that magnetic fields can trigger oxidative stress - a fundamental mechanism linked to aging, disease, and cellular damage across all living systems. The magnetic field strengths used (150-200 mT) are thousands of times stronger than typical household exposures, but they reveal important biological pathways that weaker fields might also influence over time. The research shows magnetic fields don't just pass harmlessly through living tissue - they actively alter cellular chemistry by disrupting the delicate balance between harmful reactive oxygen species and protective antioxidants. While this was conducted in plants, the basic cellular mechanisms of oxidative stress are remarkably similar across species, making these findings relevant to understanding potential human health effects.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 150 and 200 mG
- Exposure Duration
- 1h
Exposure Context
This study used 150 and 200 mG for magnetic fields:
- 7.5Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1.5Mx 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
In this study, soybean seeds treated with static magnetic fields of 150 and 200 mT for 1 h were evaluated for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activity of antioxidant enzymes.
Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were measured in embryos and hypocotyls of germinating seeds by ele...
Magnetic field treatment resulted in enhanced production of ROS mediated by cell wall peroxidase whi...
Hence, these studies contribute to our first report on the biochemical basis of enhanced germination and seedling growth in magnetically treated seeds of soybean in relation to increased production of ROS.
Show BibTeX
@article{mb_2012_effect_of_stationary_magnetic_461,
author = {Shine MB and Guruprasad KN and Anand A},
title = {Effect of stationary magnetic field strengths of 150 and 200 mT on reactive oxygen species production in soybean},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1002/bem.21702},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.21702},
}