8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Oxidative Stress

Effects of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma lipid peroxide level and antioxidant activity in rats.

No Effects Found

Harakawa S, Inoue N, Hori T, Tochio K, Kariya T, Takahashi K, Doge F, Suzuki H, Nagasawa H. · 2005

View Original Abstract
Share:

Electric fields showed protective antioxidant effects only in stressed rats at exposure levels 350 times higher than typical household sources.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers exposed rats to a 50 Hz electric field (the same frequency as power lines) for 15 minutes daily over a week to study effects on oxidative stress markers. They found that the electric field actually reduced harmful lipid peroxides in rats that were given an oxidizing agent, suggesting a protective antioxidant-like effect. However, the electric field had no effect on healthy rats that weren't under oxidative stress.

Exposure Information

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

The study examined exposure from: 50 Hz Duration: 15 min per day for 7 days

Study Details

The effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electric fields (ELF EFs) on plasma lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant activity (AOA) in Sprague–Dawley rats were studied.

The test was based on comparisons among rats treated with a combination of the oxidizing agent, 2,2′...

EF significantly decreased the plasma peroxide level in rats treated with AAPH, similar to treatment...

These data indicate that the ELF EF used in this study influenced the lipid peroxide level in an oxidatively stressed rat.

Cite This Study
Harakawa S, Inoue N, Hori T, Tochio K, Kariya T, Takahashi K, Doge F, Suzuki H, Nagasawa H. (2005). Effects of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma lipid peroxide level and antioxidant activity in rats. Bioelectromagnetics. 26(7):589-594, 2005.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2005_effects_of_a_50_2847,
  author = {Harakawa S and Inoue N and Hori T and Tochio K and Kariya T and Takahashi K and Doge F and Suzuki H and Nagasawa H.},
  title = {Effects of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma lipid peroxide level and antioxidant activity in rats.},
  year = {2005},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20137},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20137},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20137

Cited By (69 papers)

View all 69 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2005 Japanese study found that 50 Hz electric fields (the same frequency as power lines) actually reduced oxidative stress markers in rats under chemical stress. However, the electric field had no effect on healthy rats without existing oxidative stress.
Research shows 50 Hz electric fields don't harm antioxidant activity in healthy animals. One study found these fields actually helped reduce harmful compounds called lipid peroxides in rats experiencing oxidative stress, suggesting a protective effect.
A controlled study exposed rats to 50 Hz electric fields for a week and found no cellular damage in healthy animals. Surprisingly, the exposure appeared to protect against oxidative damage in rats given oxidizing chemicals.
Based on animal research, 50 Hz electric fields from power lines don't appear to create health risks through oxidative stress. One study actually found these frequencies may have mild protective effects against certain types of cellular damage.
Research indicates 50 Hz electric fields don't increase harmful free radicals in healthy tissue. One Japanese study found these fields actually reduced lipid peroxides (markers of free radical damage) in animals under oxidative stress conditions.