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Assessment of the neurotoxic potential of exposure to 50Hz 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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Even at magnetic field levels 10,000 times above background exposure, researchers found no toxic effects on nerve cells in laboratory tests.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed nerve cells (PC12 cells) to 50 Hz magnetic fields at extremely high levels - up to 1000 microteslas, which is 10,000 times stronger than typical background exposure. They tested both healthy cells and chemically-stressed cells that were more vulnerable to damage. The study found no toxic effects on the nerve cells' calcium balance, oxidative stress levels, or cell membrane integrity, even at these extraordinarily high exposure levels.

Study Details

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

We therefore investigated effects of acute (30 min) and sub-chronic (48 h) exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF...

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

Our combined findings thus indicate that exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF up to 1000 μT, i.e. 10,000 times above background exposure, does not induce neurotoxic effects in vitro, neither in naïve nor in chemically stressed PC12 cells. 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 50Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in naïve and chemically-stressed PC12 cells. Neurotoxicology. 2014 Aug 8. pii: S0161-813X(14)00138-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2014.07.009.
Show BibTeX
@article{mw_2014_assessment_of_the_neurotoxic_2894,
  author = {de Groot MW and Kock MD and Westerink RH.},
  title = {Assessment of the neurotoxic potential of exposure to 50Hz 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

Researchers exposed nerve cells (PC12 cells) to 50 Hz magnetic fields at extremely high levels - up to 1000 microteslas, which is 10,000 times stronger than typical background exposure. They tested both healthy cells and chemically-stressed cells that were more vulnerable to damage. The study found no toxic effects on the nerve cells' calcium balance, oxidative stress levels, or cell membrane integrity, even at these extraordinarily high exposure levels.