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Short-term exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF alters the cisplatin-induced oxidative response in AT478 murine squamous cell carcinoma cells.

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Bułdak RJ, Polaniak R, Bułdak L, Zwirska-Korczala K, Skonieczna M, Monsiol A, Kukla M, Duława-Bułdak A, Birkner E. · 2012

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In AT478 carcinoma cells, 50 Hz ELF-EMF reduced the oxidative stress and DNA damage caused by cisplatin, but on its own it acted as a mild oxidative stressor and DNA damage inducer.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers assessed how cisplatin and an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) affected antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in AT478 carcinoma cells. Cells were cultured with cisplatin for 24 and 72 hours and irradiated with 50 Hz/1 mT ELF-EMF for 16 minutes using a solenoid. When ELF-EMF was combined with cisplatin, ROS levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, and DNA damage all decreased compared to cisplatin alone, but ELF-EMF by itself increased DNA damage relative to control cells.

Why This Matters

The researchers measured several markers of oxidative stress: reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzyme activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and DNA damage. Cisplatin alone produced a significant increase in ROS and antioxidant enzyme activity in the carcinoma cells. Adding ELF-EMF to cisplatin treatment lowered ROS levels and antioxidant enzyme activity. The greatest reduction in MDA concentrations was associated with treatment by both cisplatin and ELF-EMF together. The researchers speculated that ELF-EMF exerts differential effects depending on the exogenous conditions.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
16 min

Exposure Context

This study used 1 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: 1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 5 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 assess the influence of cisplatin and an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on antioxidant enzyme activity and the lipid peroxidation ratio, as well as the level of DNA damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in AT478 carcinoma cells.

Cells were cultured for 24 and 72 h in culture medium with cisplatin. Additionally, the cells were i...

Cells that were exposed to cisplatin exhibited a significant increase in ROS and antioxidant enzyme ...

We speculate that ELF-EMF exerts differential effects depending on the exogenous conditions. This information may be of value for appraising the pathophysiologic consequences of exposure to ELF-EMF.

Cite This Study
Bułdak RJ, Polaniak R, Bułdak L, Zwirska-Korczala K, Skonieczna M, Monsiol A, Kukla M, Duława-Bułdak A, Birkner E. (2012). Short-term exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF alters the cisplatin-induced oxidative response in AT478 murine squamous cell carcinoma cells. Bioelectromagnetics. 33(8):641-651, 2012.
Show BibTeX
@article{rj_2012_shortterm_exposure_to_50_325,
  author = {Bułdak RJ and Polaniak R and Bułdak L and Zwirska-Korczala K and Skonieczna M and Monsiol A and Kukla M and Duława-Bułdak A and Birkner E. },
  title = {Short-term exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF alters the cisplatin-induced oxidative response in AT478 murine squamous cell carcinoma cells.},
  year = {2012},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.21732},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.21732},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.21732

Cited By (67 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Cells were irradiated with 50 Hz/1 mT ELF-EMF for 16 minutes using a solenoid.
ELF-EMF alone resulted in an increase in DNA damage compared to control cells and acted as a mild oxidative stressor.
Cisplatin induced the most severe DNA damage, but when cells were also irradiated with ELF-EMF, less DNA damage occurred.
The researchers speculated that ELF-EMF exerts differential effects depending on the exogenous conditions.