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Brain & Nervous System109 citations

Fifty hertz extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure elicits redox and trophic response in rat-cortical neurons.

Bioeffects Seen

Di Loreto S, Falone S, Caracciolo V, Sebastiani P, D'Alessandro A, Mirabilio A, Zimmitti V, Amicarelli F. · 2009

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This study found that 50 Hz magnetic fields at very high intensities actually improved brain cell survival and triggered protective responses.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rat brain cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields and found the exposure improved cell survival and reduced cell death. The magnetic fields also triggered protective antioxidant responses and increased production of proteins that support brain health, suggesting potential protective effects.

Why This Matters

This study presents intriguing findings that challenge common assumptions about EMF effects on brain tissue. The research demonstrates that 50 Hz magnetic fields at 0.1 and 1 milliTesla intensities triggered protective cellular responses in rat neurons, including enhanced survival mechanisms and increased production of brain-protective proteins. To put this in perspective, 1 milliTesla is roughly 10,000 times stronger than typical household magnetic field exposures, which usually range from 0.01 to 0.2 microTesla. What makes this research particularly noteworthy is its focus on the cellular mechanisms underlying EMF exposure, specifically the role of glutathione in antioxidant defense and the upregulation of neurotrophic factors. While these results might seem reassuring, they underscore the complex and dose-dependent nature of EMF bioeffects. The reality is that we're still building our understanding of how different frequencies, intensities, and exposure durations affect biological systems, and protective effects at one exposure level don't necessarily translate to safety across all scenarios.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.1 and 1 mG
Source/Device
50 Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 0.1 and 1 mG 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 and 1 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 20,000x higher than this level
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 the present work was to investigate the effects of exposures to two different 50 Hz sinusoidal ELF‐MFs intensities (0.1 and 1 mT) in maturing rat cortical neurons' major anti‐oxidative enzymatic and non‐enzymatic cellular protection systems, membrane peroxidative damage, as well as growth factor, and cytokine expression pattern.

Briefly, our results showed that ELF‐MFs affected positively the cell viability and concomitantly re...

Cite This Study
Di Loreto S, Falone S, Caracciolo V, Sebastiani P, D'Alessandro A, Mirabilio A, Zimmitti V, Amicarelli F. (2009). Fifty hertz extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure elicits redox and trophic response in rat-cortical neurons. J Cell Physiol. 219(2):334-343, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2009_fifty_hertz_extremely_lowfrequency_242,
  author = {Di Loreto S and Falone S and Caracciolo V and Sebastiani P and D'Alessandro A and Mirabilio A and Zimmitti V and Amicarelli F.},
  title = {Fifty hertz extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure elicits redox and trophic response in rat-cortical neurons.},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1002/jcp.21674},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcp.21674},
}
DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21674

Cited By (109 papers)

View all 109 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Research on rat brain cells found that 50 Hz magnetic fields actually improved cell survival and reduced cell death. The study showed these extremely low frequency fields triggered protective responses rather than causing damage to neurons.
A 2009 study found power line frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz) had protective effects on rat brain neurons. The exposure increased cell survival, reduced cell death, and boosted production of brain-protective proteins.
Research shows 50 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields can trigger beneficial responses in brain cells. One study found these fields improved neuron survival and activated protective antioxidant systems in rat brain tissue.
Studies on rat neurons show 50 Hz magnetic fields can have protective effects, improving cell viability and reducing cell death. The exposure also increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which supports healthy brain function.
Research demonstrates that 50 Hz power frequency magnetic fields can enhance brain cell survival and activate protective cellular responses. One study found these fields reduced neuron death while boosting antioxidant defenses.