Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields promote in vitro neurogenesis via upregulation of Ca(v)1-channel activity.
Piacentini R, Ripoli C, Mezzogori D, Azzena GB, Grassi C. · 2008
View Original AbstractPower-frequency EMF at 1 mT directly promotes brain cell development by activating calcium channels, showing these fields actively influence neurogenesis.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed neural stem cells from newborn mice to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (50 Hz at 1 mT) and found that this exposure significantly promoted the development of these cells into mature neurons. The electromagnetic fields worked by increasing the activity of specific calcium channels in the cells, which are crucial for brain cell development. This suggests that power-frequency EMF exposure can directly influence how brain cells develop and mature.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a fundamental mechanism by which power-frequency EMF exposure can alter brain development at the cellular level. The 1 mT exposure used here is actually quite high compared to typical household exposures, which usually range from 0.1 to 4 mT near appliances, but the findings demonstrate that EMF can directly influence neurogenesis through calcium channel modulation. What makes this research particularly significant is that it shows EMF effects on the most basic level of brain development - how stem cells become neurons. The science demonstrates that these fields aren't biologically inert as industry often claims. While the researchers frame increased neurogenesis as potentially beneficial, the reality is that any uncontrolled alteration of brain development processes raises important questions about EMF exposure during critical developmental windows, especially for children whose brains are still forming.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 1 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
Exposure Context
This study used 1 mG for magnetic fields:
- 50Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 10Kx 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 study was conducted to determine whether ELFEFs influence the neuronal differentiation of NSCs isolated from the brain cortices of newborn mice by modulating Cav1‐channel function.
In cultures of differentiating NSCs exposed to ELFEFs (1 mT, 50 Hz), the percentage of cells display...
Our data suggest that ELFEF exposure promotes neuronal differentiation of NSCs by upregulating Cav1‐channel expression and function.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2008_extremely_lowfrequency_electromagnetic_fields_283,
author = {Piacentini R and Ripoli C and Mezzogori D and Azzena GB and Grassi C.},
title = {Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields promote in vitro neurogenesis via upregulation of Ca(v)1-channel activity.},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1002/jcp.21293},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcp.21293},
}