Extremely low frequency magnetic fields induce oxidative stress in rat brain.
Manikonda PK, Rajendra P, Devendranath D, Gunasekaran B, Channakeshava, Aradhya SR, Sashidhar RB, Subramanyam C. · 2013
View Original Abstract90-day exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields caused dose-dependent brain oxidative stress in rats at levels commonly found near electrical infrastructure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (the type from power lines and appliances) for 90 days and found significant oxidative stress damage in their brains. The damage was dose-dependent, meaning higher field strengths caused more harm, and affected different brain regions differently. This suggests that chronic exposure to these common magnetic fields may damage brain cells by overwhelming the body's natural antioxidant defenses.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that the magnetic fields we encounter daily from electrical infrastructure can cause measurable biological harm. The exposure levels tested (50-100 µT) are well within the range you might experience living near power lines or using certain household appliances. What makes this research particularly significant is the 90-day exposure period, which more closely mimics real-world chronic exposure than the brief exposures in many EMF studies. The finding that oxidative stress occurred in a dose-dependent manner across multiple brain regions strengthens the case that these effects are directly caused by the magnetic field exposure, not random biological variation. The reality is that oxidative stress is a well-established pathway to cellular damage and neurological dysfunction. While this is animal research, the biological mechanisms involved are fundamentally similar in humans, and the exposure levels are environmentally relevant.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.05, 0.1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 90 days continuously
Exposure Context
This study used 0.05, 0.1 mG for magnetic fields:
- 2.5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 500x 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 present investigation was conducted to understand the influence of long-term exposure of rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), focusing on oxidative stress (OS) on different regions of rat's brain.
Male Wistar rats (21-day-old) were exposed to ELF-MF (50 Hz; 50 and 100 µT) for 90 days continuously...
In comparison to control group rats, the rats that were continuously exposed to ELF-MF caused OS and...
Varied influences observed in different regions of the brain, as documented in this study, may contribute to altered metabolic patterns in its related regions of the central nervous system, leading to aberrant neuronal functions.
Show BibTeX
@article{pk_2013_extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_683,
author = {Manikonda PK and Rajendra P and Devendranath D and Gunasekaran B and Channakeshava and Aradhya SR and Sashidhar RB and Subramanyam C.},
title = {Extremely low frequency magnetic fields induce oxidative stress in rat brain.},
year = {2013},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24334533/},
}