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 AbstractMagnetic fields from power lines caused measurable brain damage in rats after 90 days of exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed young rats to 50 Hz magnetic fields from power lines for 90 days and found significant brain damage from oxidative stress. Higher magnetic field levels caused more harm across multiple brain regions, including areas controlling memory and movement, suggesting potential neurological effects.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how everyday magnetic field exposures affect brain health. The magnetic field strengths used (50-100 µT) are well within the range you might encounter near power lines, electrical panels, or some household appliances. What makes this research particularly significant is the 90-day exposure duration and the comprehensive analysis of multiple brain regions. The researchers found that oxidative stress increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the cortex showing the greatest damage. This matters because oxidative stress is linked to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline. The science demonstrates that chronic exposure to magnetic fields at levels we regularly encounter can measurably alter brain chemistry and potentially compromise neurological function.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.05 and 0.1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 90 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.05 and 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...
Show BibTeX
@article{pk_2014_extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_418,
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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24334533/},
}