Do 100- and 500-μT ELF magnetic fields alter beta-amyloid protein, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde in rat brains?
Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Cakir DU, Yokus B, Kizil G, Kizil M. · 2013
View Original AbstractEven 'safe' levels of magnetic field exposure caused measurable brain damage in rats after 10 months.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to magnetic fields at levels considered safe by current standards for 10 months. The exposure significantly increased two markers of brain cell damage and aging, suggesting that even "safe" magnetic field levels may cause harmful oxidative stress in brain tissue over time.
Why This Matters
This study delivers concerning findings about magnetic field exposures that fall well within current safety guidelines. The researchers used field strengths of 100 and 500 microtesla - levels you might encounter near power lines or some household appliances - and found measurable brain damage after 10 months of exposure. The increases in protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde are particularly significant because these are established biomarkers of oxidative stress and cellular aging. What makes this research especially relevant is that it challenges the adequacy of current safety standards, which are based primarily on preventing immediate heating effects rather than long-term biological impacts. The science demonstrates that chronic exposure to magnetic fields at legally permissible levels can trigger oxidative damage in brain tissue, adding to a growing body of evidence suggesting our current safety thresholds may be insufficient to protect public health.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1 and 0.5 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 h/day for 10 months
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1 and 0.5 mG for magnetic fields:
- 5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1Kx 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
The aim of this study was to illuminate the interaction between biomolecules and ELF-MFs by investigating the effect of ELF-MFs on beta-amyloid protein (BAP), protein carbonyl (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat brain.
For this study, 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, which were divided into two experimenta...
The results of this study showed that neither ELF-MFs used in this study altered BAP level significa...
In conclusion, both PC and MDA levels were altered by long-term exposure to either 100 or 500 μT ELF-MF. However, many further and more comprehensive studies will be required to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between ELF-MFs exposure and living organisms.
Show BibTeX
@article{mz_2013_do_100_and_500t_316,
author = {Akdag MZ and Dasdag S and Cakir DU and Yokus B and Kizil G and Kizil M.},
title = {Do 100- and 500-μT ELF magnetic fields alter beta-amyloid protein, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde in rat brains?},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.3109/15368378.2012.721848},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2012.721848},
}