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Brain & Nervous System

Assessment of the neurotoxic potential of exposure to 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in naïve and chemically stressed PC12 cells

No Effects Found

de Groot MW, Kock MD, Westerink RH. · 2014

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Nerve cells showed no damage from 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1,000 microtesla, which is 1,000 times stronger than power line exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Dutch researchers exposed nerve cells (PC12 cells) to 50 Hz magnetic fields at levels up to 1,000 microtesla for periods ranging from 30 minutes to 48 hours. They found no effects on calcium levels, oxidative stress, or cell membrane integrity, even in cells that had been chemically stressed to make them more vulnerable. The exposure levels were 10,000 times higher than typical background magnetic field exposure.

Exposure Information

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

The study examined exposure from: 50 Hz Duration: 30 min and 48 h

Study Details

We investigated effects of acute (30 min) and sub-chronic (48 h) exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF on naïve and chemically stressed pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.

The latter have higher levels of iron and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) and display increased vu...

Our data demonstrate that acute exposure of naïve PC12 cells to 50 Hz ELF-EMF up to 1000 μT fails to...

Though our data require confirmation, e.g. in developing neuronal cells in vitro or (developing) animals, it appears that the neurotoxic risk of ELF-EMF exposure is limited.

Cite This Study
de Groot MW, Kock MD, Westerink RH. (2014). Assessment of the neurotoxic potential of exposure to 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in naïve and chemically stressed PC12 cells Neurotoxicology. 2014 :doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2014.07.009.
Show BibTeX
@article{mw_2014_assessment_of_the_neurotoxic_2825,
  author = {de Groot MW and Kock MD and Westerink RH. },
  title = {Assessment of the neurotoxic potential of exposure to 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in naïve and chemically stressed PC12 cells},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161813X14001387},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

No, Dutch researchers found that 50 Hz electromagnetic fields up to 1,000 microtesla caused no damage to PC12 nerve cells. Even at exposure levels 10,000 times higher than normal background EMF, the cells showed no effects on calcium levels, oxidative stress, or membrane integrity during exposures lasting up to 48 hours.
No, 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure up to 1,000 microtesla did not harm even chemically stressed PC12 cells that were made more vulnerable to damage. The 2014 study found no consistent effects on calcium homeostasis, free radical production, or cell membrane integrity in these pre-stressed nerve cells.
Researchers exposed PC12 nerve cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields up to 1,000 microtesla, which is 10,000 times higher than typical background EMF exposure. These extreme levels were tested for periods ranging from 30 minutes to 48 hours to assess potential neurotoxic effects.
No, 50 Hz electromagnetic fields up to 1,000 microtesla did not affect calcium levels in PC12 nerve cells. The study found no changes in basal calcium or calcium responses during nerve cell activation, even after exposures lasting up to 48 hours.
Based on PC12 cell studies, 50 Hz power line frequencies appear to have limited neurotoxic risk even at extremely high levels. Exposures 10,000 times above background levels caused no nerve cell damage, though researchers note their findings need confirmation in developing neurons and animals.