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Anxiety-like behavioural effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field in rats.

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Djordjevic NZ, Paunović MG, Peulić AS · 2017

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Exposure to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field induced anxiety-like behaviour and increased oxidative stress markers in the hypothalamus of rats.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated whether short-term exposure to ELF-EMF at 50 Hz could produce anxiety-like behaviour in rats through changes in hypothalamic oxidative stress and nitric oxide. Ten adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into a control group with no exposure and an experimental group exposed to the field during 7 days, after which open field and elevated plus maze tests measured anxiety-like behaviour. The exposed rats showed anxiety-like behaviour and higher concentrations of superoxide anion and nitric oxide in the hypothalamus, while peroxynitrite concentration was not affected.

Why This Matters

The open field test and the elevated plus maze were used to assess anxiety-like behaviour after exposure. Concentrations of superoxide anion, nitrite as an indicator of nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite were measured in the hypothalamus after the behavioural tests were completed. The researchers concluded that anxiety-like behaviour is mediated by oxidative stress and increased nitric oxide concentration in the hypothalamus of rats exposed to ELF-EMF.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
10 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
7 days (24 h/day)

Exposure Context

This study used 10 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: 10 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 50 times the FCC limit
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

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term ELF-EMF (50 Hz) in the development of anxiety-like behaviour in rats through change hypothalamic oxidative stress and NO.

Ten adult male rats (Wistar albino) were divided in two groups: control group-without exposure to EL...

Obtained results show that ELF-EMF both induces anxiety-like behaviour and increases concentrations ...

In conclusion, the development of anxiety-like behaviour is mediated by oxidative stress and increased NO concentration in hypothalamus of rats exposed to ELF-EMF during 7 days.

Cite This Study
Djordjevic NZ, Paunović MG, Peulić AS (2017). Anxiety-like behavioural effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field in rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 24(27):21693-21699, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{nz_2017_anxietylike_behavioural_effects_of_348,
  author = {Djordjevic NZ and Paunović MG and Peulić AS},
  title = {Anxiety-like behavioural effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field in rats.},
  year = {2017},
  doi = {10.1007/s11356-017-9710-1},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-017-9710-1},
}
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9710-1

Cited By (24 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used a short-term ELF-EMF at 50 Hz.
The experimental group was exposed to ELF-EMF during 7 days.
ELF-EMF induced anxiety-like behaviour in the rats.
Concentrations of superoxide anion and nitric oxide increased, while peroxynitrite concentration was not affected.
Ten adult male Wistar albino rats were used, divided into a control group without exposure and an experimental group exposed to ELF-EMF.