The preventive effect of lotus seedpod procyanidins on cognitive impairment and oxidative damage induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure.
Duan Y, Wang Z, Zhang H, He Y, Lu R, Zhang R, Sun G, Sun X. · 2013
View Original Abstract28-day exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields impaired memory and damaged brain cells in mice, effects largely prevented by antioxidants.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the type from power lines) for 28 days and found it damaged their learning, memory, and brain cells through oxidative stress. When mice were given lotus seedpod antioxidants during exposure, these harmful effects were largely prevented. This suggests that extremely low frequency EMF exposure can cause measurable brain damage, but antioxidants may offer some protection.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that ELF-EMF exposure at 8 mT can cause measurable cognitive impairment and brain damage in just 28 days. While 8 mT is higher than typical household exposure (usually under 1 mT), it's within the range workers might encounter near high-voltage equipment. The fact that antioxidants could prevent much of the damage points to oxidative stress as a key mechanism of EMF harm. What makes this research particularly significant is that it demonstrates both functional deficits (impaired learning and memory) and structural brain changes (fewer pyramidal cells in critical hippocampal regions). The science demonstrates that ELF-EMF exposure doesn't just create cellular stress markers - it translates into real-world cognitive problems that antioxidants can help mitigate.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 8 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 28 days
Exposure Context
This study used 8 mG for magnetic fields:
- 400Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 80Kx 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 investigated the effects of lotus seedpod procyanidins (LSPCs) administered by oral gavage on the cognitive deficits and oxidative damage of mice at extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure (50 Hz, 8 mT, 28 days).
(50 Hz, 8 mT, 28 days)
The results showed that 90 mg kg−1 LSPCs treatment significantly increased body weight compared with...
All the data suggested that the LSPCs can effectively prevent learning and memory damage and oxidative damage caused by the ELF-EMF, most likely through the ability of LSPCs to scavenge oxygen free radicals and to stimulate antioxidant enzyme activity.
Show BibTeX
@article{y_2013_the_preventive_effect_of_636,
author = {Duan Y and Wang Z and Zhang H and He Y and Lu R and Zhang R and Sun G and Sun X.},
title = {The preventive effect of lotus seedpod procyanidins on cognitive impairment and oxidative damage induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure.},
year = {2013},
url = {https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/fo/c3fo60116a/unauth},
}