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. · 2014
View Original AbstractChronic exposure to common magnetic field levels causes measurable oxidative stress damage throughout rat brains in just 90 days.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (the type emitted by power lines and household appliances) for 90 days and found significant oxidative stress damage throughout their brains. The damage was dose-dependent, meaning higher magnetic field levels caused more harm, and affected different brain regions differently. This suggests that chronic exposure to these common magnetic fields may disrupt normal brain function by overwhelming the brain's natural defense systems.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that the magnetic fields we encounter daily from power lines, appliances, and electrical wiring can cause measurable biological harm to brain tissue. The exposure levels tested (50-100 microtesla) are well within the range of what many people experience in their homes and workplaces, particularly those living near power lines or using multiple electrical devices. What makes this research particularly significant is the 90-day exposure period, which more closely mimics real-world chronic exposure patterns than the brief exposures used in many EMF studies. The fact that oxidative stress occurred throughout multiple brain regions suggests these effects aren't limited to one specific area of neurological function. The dose-dependent response the researchers observed strengthens the case for causation rather than coincidence.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.05, 0.1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 90 days
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...
Accumulation of ROS, lipid peroxidation end products and activity of superoxide dismutase in differe...
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_2014_extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_279,
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 = {2014},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/24334533},
}