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Oxidative Stress129 citations

The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced oxidative burst in rat peritoneal neutrophils is increased by a 0.1 mT (60 Hz) magnetic field.

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Roy S, Noda Y, Eckert V, Traber MG, Mori A, Liburdy R, Packer L · 1995

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A 60 Hz, 0.1 mT magnetic field increased the oxidative burst in rat neutrophils by 12.4% compared to unexposed cells.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated whether a low-frequency, low-intensity magnetic field could affect the oxidative burst triggered by PMA in rat peritoneal neutrophils. In the presence of the magnetic field, a 12.4% increase in the fluorescence signal was observed in PMA-stimulated neutrophils (n = 5, P < 0.02, 18 pairs of measurements). The researchers described this as what they believed to be the first experimental observation of a magnetic field influencing free radical species generated during signal transduction in living cells.

Why This Matters

Oxidant production was tracked in real time using a fluorescent dye, DCFH, which reacts with free radical-derived oxidants such as H2O2 to become the highly fluorescent compound DCF. The observed 12.4% increase in fluorescence was statistically significant (P < 0.02) across 18 pairs of measurements.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.1 mT
Source/Device
60 Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 0.1 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: 0.1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

We have investigated whether low frequency (60 Hz) low intensity (0.1 mT) MF can modulate the phorbol 12-myristate 13- acetate (PMA) induced respiratory burst in primed rat peritoneal neutrophils, followed in real time using the dye 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH), which reacts with free radical-derived oxidants such as H2O2 (which is formed from the dismutation of superoxide) to become 2′,7′-dichlorofluorecein (DCF), a highly fluorescent compound.

In the presence of the MF, a 12.4% increase in the fluorescence signal was observed in PMA-stimulate...

We believe this represents the first experimental observation of MF influencing events involving free radical species generated during signal transduction in living cells.

Cite This Study
Roy S, Noda Y, Eckert V, Traber MG, Mori A, Liburdy R, Packer L (1995). The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced oxidative burst in rat peritoneal neutrophils is increased by a 0.1 mT (60 Hz) magnetic field. FEBS Lett. 376(3):164-166, 1995.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_1995_the_phorbol_12myristate_13acetate_453,
  author = {Roy S and Noda Y and Eckert V and Traber MG and Mori A and Liburdy R and Packer L},
  title = {The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced oxidative burst in rat peritoneal neutrophils is increased by a 0.1 mT (60 Hz) magnetic field.},
  year = {1995},
  doi = {10.1016/0014-5793(95)01266-X},
  url = {https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1016/0014-5793(95)01266-X},
}
DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(95)01266-X

Cited By (129 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study used a low-frequency, low-intensity magnetic field at 60 Hz and 0.1 mT.
The cells studied were primed rat peritoneal neutrophils stimulated with PMA.
Oxidant production was followed in real time using the dye DCFH, which reacts with free radical-derived oxidants such as H2O2 to become DCF, a highly fluorescent compound.
A 12.4% increase in the fluorescence signal was observed in PMA-stimulated neutrophils exposed to the magnetic field (P < 0.02, 18 pairs of measurements).
The researchers described the result as what they believed to be the first experimental observation of a magnetic field influencing free radical species generated during signal transduction in living cells.