EMF Research Studies

A briefing memorandum: What we know, can infer, and don’t yet know about impacts from thermal and non-thermal non-ionizing radiation to birds and other wildlife — for public release

Manville, A. · 2016

The role of electromagnetic fields in neurological disorders

Terzi et al · 2016

The study tested whether glutamate release from cardiovascular afferents could be detected with biosensors and whether it changes in heart failure. Heart failure was induced by coronary artery ligation, and after 5–6 weeks a glutamate biosensor was placed in the nucleus tractus solitarii of anesthetized, ventilated rats. In sham-operated rats, cardiopulmonary and depressor reflex activation released 2.6 ± 0.8 μM and 1.1 ± 0.2 μM glutamate, respectively, with associated blood pressure and heart rate changes. In heart failure rats, glutamate release was significantly reduced to 0.5 ± 0.3 μM and 0.2 ± 0.1 μM, while cardiovascular responses and resting pressure and heart rate were unchanged.

(2016) Electromagnetic fields and stem cell fate: When physics meets biology

Tamrin et al · 2016

The authors discuss the importance of controlling stem cell fate in research. They review how mechanical, chemical, and electrical cues have been used to control stem cell fate. The review explores the electromagnetic nature of cells and effects of EMF on factors influencing cell fate. The authors suggest EMFs could be engineered to control stem cell fate decisions. They note that mechanisms remain unclear and need further study.

(2016) Oxidative mechanisms of biological activity of low-intensity radiofrequency radiation

Yakymenko et al · 2016

The review analyzed peer-reviewed scientific literature on oxidative effects of low-intensity radiofrequency radiation in living cells. The analysis revealed significant activation of reactive oxygen species pathways, peroxidation, oxidative DNA damage, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity. The authors concluded that low-intensity RFR is an expressive oxidative agent with high pathogenic potential and that oxidative stress should be recognized as a primary mechanism of its biological activity.

2016 NTP Report of Partial Findings (Rats)

Unknown authors · 2016

The report presents partial findings, including low incidences of malignant gliomas in the brain and schwannomas in the heart of male rats exposed to CDMA and GSM modulated RFR. Potentially preneoplastic lesions were also observed in the brain and heart of male rats exposed to RFR.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote survival and neuronal differentiation of human BM-MSCs Life Sci

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers treated induced human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with pulsed electromagnetic fields. PEMF increased the expression of neural markers NF-L, NeuroD1, and Tau. PEMF greatly decreased cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PEMF exposure dramatically increased phosphorylation of Akt, Rsk, Creb, Erk, Bcl-xL, and Bad. PEMF-dependent cell protection was reversed by a PI3K inhibitor, and the data suggest the PI3K/Akt/Bad pathway may mediate the protective effects.

Short- and long-term exposure to alternating magnetic field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) affects rat pituitary ACTH cells: Stereological study

Rauš Balind S, M. · 2016

Effect of human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on cerebral ischemic volume-controlled photothrombotic mouse model

Choi Y-K, Urnukhsaikhan E, Yoon H-H, Seo Y-K, Park J-K · 2016

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields do not induce DNA damage in human lens epithelial cells in vitro

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers exposed human lens epithelial cells to a 50 Hz ELF MF at 0.4 mT or sham exposure. DNA damage was assessed using γH2AX foci formation assay, western blot, flow cytometry, and alkaline comet assay. No significant increase in γH2AX foci formation was observed after exposures up to 48 hours, γH2AX expression levels did not differ between exposure groups, and no chromosomal DNA fragmentation was detected.

Coupling Mechanism of Electromagnetic Field and Thermal Stress on Drosophila melanogaster

Zhang Z, Zhang J, Yang C-J, Lian H-Y, Yu H, Huang X-M, Cai P · 2016

Effects of dietary green tea polyphenol supplementation on the health of workers exposed to high-voltage power lines

Unknown authors · 2016

The study randomized 867 workers with or without exposure to 110-420 kV power lines into green tea polyphenol or placebo groups. Urinary 8-isoprostane and 8-OHdG were measured to assess oxidative stress and DNA damage. Exposed workers had significantly higher levels of both markers, which decreased after 12 months of supplementation. The protective effect was lost three months after stopping supplementation.

Protective effect of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod on immune function injury induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic field

Unknown authors · 2016

The study evaluated the protective effect of lotus seedpod procyanidins against extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure at 50 Hz, 8 mT for 28 days. LSPCs increased the organ index of mice and restored damaged blood-producing function and cytokine levels including INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in the spleen to normal. LSPCs also inhibited splenocyte stagnation in G0/G1 phase, promoted proliferation, reduced apoptosis, prevented DNA content decline, and reversed changes in Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 expression.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on gingival fibroblasts from static magnetic fields produced by dental magnetic attachments

Unknown authors · 2016

They analyzed mitotic index and micronucleus rates after exposure. No significant differences were found in mitotic index rates within or between groups. Double Dyna and double Steco configurations showed statistically significant intragroup differences in micronucleus rates. No statistically significant differences in micronucleus rates were found between groups.

Co-exposure of ELF-magnetic fields and chemical mutagens: An investigation of genotoxicity with the SOS-based VITOTOX test in Salmonella typhimurium

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers investigated the effects of ELF magnetic fields together with 4 chemical mutagens using the bacterial Vitotox test. A 100 μT magnetic field at 50 Hz did not damage DNA and was not mutagenic in the assay. The magnetic field also did not influence the DNA-damaging capacity of the chemical mutagens.

Exposure to 50Hz- sinusoidal electromagnetic field induces DNA damage-independent autophagy

Shen Y, Xia R, Jiang H, Chen Y, Hong L, Yu Y, Xu Z, Zeng Q · 2016

Researchers exposed Chinese Hamster Lung cells to a 0.4mT 50Hz sinusoidal EMF for 30 minutes or 24 hours. When autophagy was blocked with Bafilomycin A1, cell apoptosis increased, while EMF-induced autophagy protected cells from severe adverse consequences.

Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field and cisplatin on mRNA levels of some DNA repair genes

Sanie-Jahromi F, Saadat I, Saadat M · 2016

Researchers evaluated the effects of 50-Hz EMF at two intensities and three exposure patterns, alone or combined with cisplatin, on the mRNA levels of seven DNA-repair genes in MCF-7 and SH-SY5Y cells. In MCF-7 cells exposed to EMF alone, the examined genes tended to be down-regulated, and the 15-min on/15-min off pattern at 0.50 mT down-regulated GADD45A, XRCC1, XRCC4, Ku80, Ku70 and LIG4. When cells were co-treated with cisplatin and EMF, the cisplatin IC50 rose significantly, GADD45A mRNA increased, and XRCC4, Ku80, Ku70 and DNA-PKcs mRNA decreased.

Effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on MAP2 and Nestin gene expression of hair follicle dermal papilla cells

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers investigated the effect of a 50 Hz, 1 mT extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on MAP2 and Nestin gene expression in dermal papilla mesenchymal cells. Four experimental groups were prepared: chemical exposure, EMF exposure, combined chemical and EMF exposure, and a control with no treatment, all treated for 5 days. An additional EMF group was exposed for 14 consecutive days to assess the effect of longer exposure on neural differentiation markers Nestin and MAP2. After 14 days, MAP2 expression was higher than after 5 days and cell proliferation decreased from days 5 to 20, indicating that longer exposure promotes neural differentiation.

Short-term Exposure to 50-Hz Electromagnetic field and alterations in NQO1 and NQO2 expression in MCF-7 Cells

Mahmoudinasab H, Saadat M · 2016

NQO1 mRNA decreased immediately after exposure to the 5 min on/5 min off pattern at 0.25 mT compared to unexposed cells. NQO2 mRNA increased immediately and at two hours after exposure to the same pattern at 0.50 mT compared to unexposed cells.

Overexpression of miR- 26b-5p regulates the cell cycle by targeting CCND2 in GC-2 cells under exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

Liu Y, Liu W-B, Liu K-J, Ao L, Cao J, Zhong JL, Liu J-Y · 2016

Researchers exposed mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells to a 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 72 hours at intensities of 1 mT, 2 mT, and 3 mT. miR-26b-5p expression changed in response to different magnetic field intensities. Overexpressing miR-26b-5p significantly decreased G0/G1 phase cells and slightly increased S phase cells compared to sham-exposed cells. CCND2 was identified as a direct target of miR-26b-5p, and both miR-26b-5p and ELF-EMF altered CCND2 expression at mRNA and protein levels.

Cuppen, T Kozicz, L

de Kleijn S, G. · 2016

Different periods of intrauterine exposure to electromagnetic field: Influence on female rats' fertility, prenatal and postnatal development

Alchalabi ASH et al. · 2016

The primary analysis set included 275 patients in the N2D group, 275 in the N1D group, and 272 in the 2LPEG group. The primary endpoint of successful overall bowel cleansing (HCS) was achieved by 92.0% in the N2D group, 89.1% in the N1D group, and 87.5% in the 2LPEG group. Excellent or good cleansing rates in the ascending colon were 31.6% for N2D, 33.8% for N1D, and 15.1% for 2LPEG. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 11.5% of N2D patients, 14.9% of N1D patients, and 7.6% of 2LPEG patients.

Effects of combined radiofrequency field exposure on amyloid-beta-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurones

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers examined the effect of combined RF radiation on amyloid-beta-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 rat hippocampal neurons. Amyloid-beta suppressed HT22 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. RF exposure did not affect cell proliferation and had only a marginal effect on amyloid-beta-induced growth suppression. Amyloid-beta increased ROS generation and apoptosis markers including annexin V/PI-positive cells, PARP and caspase-3 degradation. Amyloid-beta stimulated a DNA damage pathway and enhanced beta-site amyloid precursor protein expression, while RF had no effect on these events.

Microwave fields have little effect on α- synuclein aggregation in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Parkinson's disease

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers used a transgenic C. elegans strain with fluorescently tagged α-synuclein to measure aggregation via FRET. They exposed worms to RF fields at 1.0 GHz CW (0.002-0.02 W kg−1) and 1.8 GHz CW or GSM (1.8 W kg−1) using two exposure systems. No statistically significant changes in aggregation were observed at 2.5, 24, or 96 h across several independent runs. The model responded to chemical promoters like mercury but showed no similar response to RF exposures.

Does exposure to environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields cause cognitive and behavioral effects in 10-year-old boys? Bioelectromagnetics

Calvente I et al. · 2016

Additive Effects of Millimeter Waves and 2-Deoxyglucose Co-Exposure on the Human Keratinocyte Transcriptome

Unknown authors · 2016

Researchers exposed a human keratinocyte model to 60.4 GHz millimeter waves at 20 mW/cm2 for 3 hours in athermic conditions. No keratinocyte transcriptome modifications were observed after this exposure. The glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose decreased cellular ATP content and induced a high modification in the transcriptome affecting 632 coding genes. The combined millimeter-wave and 2-deoxyglucose exposure did not alter ATP content but slightly altered the transcriptome, and RT-PCR validation confirmed six MMW-sensitive genes.