Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields modulate nitric oxide signaling in rat brain.
Cho SI, Nam YS, Chu LY, Lee JH, Bang JS, Kim HR, Kim HC, Lee YJ, Kim HD, Sul JD, Kim D, Chung YH, Jeong JH. · 2012
View Original AbstractPower-frequency magnetic fields altered brain chemistry in multiple regions after just 5 days, showing biological effects without visible tissue damage.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to 60 Hz magnetic fields (like those from power lines) for five days and found increased nitric oxide production in key brain regions. While brain structure remained normal, the biochemical changes suggest power-frequency magnetic fields can alter brain chemistry and potentially affect neurological function.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how extremely low-frequency magnetic fields interact with brain chemistry. The researchers found measurable biochemical changes in brain regions critical for memory, movement, and cognition after just 5 days of exposure to magnetic fields at levels you might encounter near power lines or electrical substations. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates a clear biological mechanism - the activation of nitric oxide signaling pathways that influence blood flow and neuronal communication. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure doesn't need to cause visible tissue damage to create meaningful biological effects. While 2 mT is higher than typical household exposures, these findings contribute to a growing body of evidence showing that our brains respond to electromagnetic fields in measurable ways, raising important questions about long-term exposure from our increasingly electrified environment.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 2 mG
- Source/Device
- 60 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 5 Days
Exposure Context
This study used 2 mG for magnetic fields:
- 100Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 20Kx 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 designed to confirm that ELF-MF affects neuronal NOS (nNOS) in several brain regions and to investigate the correlation between NO and nNOS activation.
The exposure of rats to a 2 mT, 60 Hz ELF-MF for 5 days resulted in increases of NO levels in parall...
Cresyl violet staining and electron microscopic evaluation revealed that there were no significant d...
These data suggest that the increase in NO could be due to the increased expression and activation of nNOS in cells. Based on NO signaling in physiological and pathological states, ELF-MF created by electric power systems may induce various physiological changes in modern life.
Show BibTeX
@article{si_2012_extremely_lowfrequency_magnetic_fields_614,
author = {Cho SI and Nam YS and Chu LY and Lee JH and Bang JS and Kim HR and Kim HC and Lee YJ and Kim HD and Sul JD and Kim D and Chung YH and Jeong JH.},
title = {Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields modulate nitric oxide signaling in rat brain.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22496058/},
}