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Extremely low-frequency magnetic field induces manganese accumulation in brain, kidney and liver of rats

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Celik MS, Guven K, Akpolat V, Akdag MZ, Naziroglu M, Gul-Guven R, Celik MY, Erdogan S. · 2013

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Magnetic field exposure increased toxic metal accumulation in rat organs, suggesting EMF may amplify environmental toxicity.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to magnetic fields from power lines while giving them manganese, a potentially toxic mineral. Magnetic field exposure significantly increased manganese buildup in the brain, kidneys, and liver, suggesting everyday electrical exposures may enhance absorption of harmful metals.

Why This Matters

This research reveals a concerning mechanism by which EMF exposure may amplify toxicity from environmental contaminants. The 1.5 mT magnetic field strength used here is actually quite high compared to typical household exposures (which range from 0.01 to 0.2 mT), but it's within the range you might encounter very close to high-voltage power lines or certain industrial equipment. What makes this study particularly significant is that it demonstrates EMF can act as a toxicity enhancer, not just a direct health threat. The brain accumulation findings are especially troubling, given manganese's known neurotoxic effects at elevated levels. While we're exposed to manganese through food and water daily, this study suggests that simultaneous EMF exposure could be making our bodies less effective at clearing these metals, potentially leading to harmful buildup over time.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1.5 mG
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
4 h for 5 days a week during 45 days

Exposure Context

This study used 1.5 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 ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1.5 mGExtreme Concern5 mGFCC Limit2,000 mGEffects observed in the Severe Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 1,333x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on accumulation of manganese (Mn) in the kidney, liver and brain of rats.

A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into eight groups. Four control groups received 0, 3.75, 15...

In result of the current study, we observed that Mn levels in brain, kidney and liver were higher in...

In conclusion, result of the current study showed that the ELF-MF induced manganese accumulation in kidney, liver and brain of rats.

Cite This Study
Celik MS, Guven K, Akpolat V, Akdag MZ, Naziroglu M, Gul-Guven R, Celik MY, Erdogan S. (2013). Extremely low-frequency magnetic field induces manganese accumulation in brain, kidney and liver of rats Toxicol Ind Health. 2013 Feb 28.doi.org/10.1177/0748233713480204.
Show BibTeX
@article{ms_2013_extremely_lowfrequency_magnetic_field_227,
  author = {Celik MS and Guven K and Akpolat V and Akdag MZ and Naziroglu M and Gul-Guven R and Celik MY and Erdogan S.},
  title = {Extremely low-frequency magnetic field induces manganese accumulation in brain, kidney and liver of rats},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.1177/0748233713480204},
  url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0748233713480204},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed rats to magnetic fields from power lines while giving them manganese, a potentially toxic mineral. Magnetic field exposure significantly increased manganese buildup in the brain, kidneys, and liver, suggesting everyday electrical exposures may enhance absorption of harmful metals.