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Reproductive Health

Can safe and long-term exposure to extremely low frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields affect apoptosis, reproduction, and oxidative stress?

No Effects Found

Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Uzunlar AK, Ulukaya E, Oral AY, Celik N, Akşen F. · 2013

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Ten months of magnetic field exposure showed no reproductive harm in rats, but higher levels increased cellular death markers.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) for 10 months to test effects on sperm health, cell death, and oxidative stress. They found no impact on sperm count or quality, and no oxidative damage at either exposure level tested. However, higher exposure (500 μT) did increase markers of programmed cell death in testicular tissue.

Why This Matters

This study provides important context for understanding magnetic field exposure from power lines and electrical systems, which operate at 50-60 Hz. The exposure levels tested (100-500 μT) are significantly higher than typical household exposures, which usually range from 0.1-1 μT near appliances and 0.01-0.1 μT in most living spaces. The finding that reproductive parameters remained unaffected even at these elevated levels offers some reassurance about everyday EMF exposure. However, the increased cell death markers at 500 μT suggest biological effects can occur at higher intensities. What this means for you is that while routine household magnetic field exposure appears unlikely to affect fertility based on this research, the study reinforces that biological effects are possible at higher exposure levels, supporting the principle of prudent avoidance when practical.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.1 and 0.5 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz ELM-MF
Exposure Duration
2 h/day, 7 days/week, for 10 months

Exposure Context

This study used 0.1 and 0.5 mT 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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.1 and 0.5 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 times higher than this level
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

Study Details

To determine whether 50 Hz extremely low frequency-magnetic fields (ELF-MF) affects apoptotic processes, oxidative damage, and reproductive characteristics such as sperm count and morphology in rat testes.

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the present study, which were divided into three groups...

There were no significant differences in the reproductive and oxidative stress parameters between th...

Long-term exposure to 100 μT and 500 μT ELF-MF did not affect oxidative or antioxidative processes, lipid peroxidation, or reproductive components such as sperm count and morphology in testes tissue of rats. However, long-term exposure to 500 μT ELF-MF did affect active-caspase-3 activity, which is a well-known apoptotic indicator.

Cite This Study
Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Uzunlar AK, Ulukaya E, Oral AY, Celik N, Akşen F. (2013). Can safe and long-term exposure to extremely low frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields affect apoptosis, reproduction, and oxidative stress? Int J Radiat Biol. 89(12):1053-1060, 2013b.
Show BibTeX
@article{mz_2013_can_safe_and_longterm_2836,
  author = {Akdag MZ and Dasdag S and Uzunlar AK and Ulukaya E and Oral AY and Celik N and Akşen F.},
  title = {Can safe and long-term exposure to extremely low frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields affect apoptosis, reproduction, and oxidative stress?},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.3109/09553002.2013.817705},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553002.2013.817705},
}
DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2013.817705

Cited By (36 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2013 study exposed rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields for 10 months and found no impact on sperm count, quality, or oxidative damage at typical power line exposure levels (100 μT). However, higher exposure (500 μT) increased cell death markers in testicular tissue.
Research on rats exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields for 10 months showed no reproductive damage at 100 μT exposure levels. At 500 μT (five times higher), researchers detected increased programmed cell death in testicular tissue but no changes in sperm parameters.
A 10-month rat study found that 500 μT magnetic field exposure (50 Hz frequency) increased active-caspase-3 activity, indicating higher programmed cell death in testicular tissue. However, sperm count, morphology, and overall reproductive function remained unaffected at this exposure level.
Research shows 500 μT magnetic field exposure (50 Hz frequency) for 10 months increases testicular cell death markers in rats, while 100 μT exposure causes no detectable effects. Both levels had no impact on actual sperm production or quality parameters.
A 10-month study on 50 Hz magnetic fields (household power frequency) found no harm to sperm production, count, or morphology in rats at typical environmental levels. Only very high exposure (500 μT) affected cellular processes without impacting reproductive function.