EMF Research Studies

Intracellular Ca(2+) levels in rat ventricle cells exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field

Unknown authors · 2011

Pre-exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields modifies menadione-induced genotoxic effects in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers exposed human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 100 µT for 24 hours followed by chemical exposure for 3 hours. The chemicals used were menadione and methyl methanesulphonate to induce DNA damage and micronucleus formation. Pre-treatment with magnetic fields enhanced menadione-induced DNA damage, DNA repair rate, and micronucleus formation. Similar effects were seen with methyl methanesulphonate but were not statistically significant. No effects were observed from magnetic field exposure alone.

Toxicity and SOS response to ELF magnetic field and nalidixic acid in E. coli cells

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers exposed E. coli GE499 cells to a combination of static and extremely low frequency magnetic fields and measured chromatin conformation using the anomalous viscosity time dependence technique, as well as cell growth, cloning efficiency, and SOS response. Nalidixic acid at 3-30 μg/ml decreased AVTD peaks, caused cytotoxic effects, and induced SOS response. ELF exposure increased AVTD, stimulated cell growth, and increased cloning efficiency, with these effects depending on frequency within the 7-11 Hz range. ELF exposure did not induce the recA-lacZ fusion and did not modify the genotoxic effects of nalidixic acid. The article was retracted in 2014, with a retraction notice in Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen on January 15, 2014.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect lipid-linked Carbonic anhydrase

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers studied the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on bovine lung membrane carbonic anhydrase. A 75 Hz field decreased enzyme activity by 17% with a threshold of about 0.74 mT. The effect was independent of exposure duration and completely reversible. Solubilizing the enzyme with Triton eliminated the field effect, indicating the membrane linkage is essential.

Influence of exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field on neuroendocrine cells and hormones in stomach of rats

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers exposed rats to ELF-MF at 60 Hz and 0.1 mT for durations of 24 hours and 1 or 2 weeks. Exposure altered the distribution and occurrence of gastrin, ghrelin, and somatostatin-positive endocrine cells in the stomach. Hormone secretion into blood did not change significantly with ELF-MF exposure. ELF-MF exposure for 1 and 2 weeks increased the BaSO4 suspension propelling ratio, indicating effects on gastrointestinal motility.

Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure on DNA transposition in relation to frequency, wave shape and exposure time

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers exposed two Escherichia coli model systems to sinusoidal (SiMF) or pulsed-square wave (PMF) magnetic fields of various frequencies (20, 50, 75 Hz) and for different exposure times (15 and 90 min). Transposition of both mini-Tn10 and Tn5 decreased under SiMF and increased under PMF compared to sham exposure control. No significant difference was found between frequencies and between exposure times.

Acute Exposure to 50-Hz Magnetic Fields Increases Interleukin-6 in Young Healthy Men

Unknown authors · 2011

Sulpizio M et al, (Augst 2011) Molecular basis underlying the biological effects elicited by extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on neuroblastoma cells, J Cell Biochem

Unknown authors · 2011

After 15 days, nine new proteins involved in cellular defense, organization, and proliferation appeared, including peroxiredoxin isoenzymes (2, 3, and 6), 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, actin cytoplasmatic 2, t-complex protein subunit beta, ropporin-1A, profilin-2, and spindlin-1. ELF-MF exposure altered proliferative status, cell growth pattern, and cytoskeletal organization, supporting a hypothesis that ELF radiation could trigger a shift toward a more invasive phenotype.

Genotoxicity investigation of ELF-magnetic fields in Salmonella typhimurium with the sensitive SOS-based VITOTOX test

Verschaeve L et al · 2011

Researchers performed a genotoxicity investigation of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz, 100 and 500 µT, for 1 and 2 hours exposure, alone and with chemical mutagens using the VITOTOX test. The study showed that ELF magnetic fields do not induce SOS-based mutagenicity in S. typhimurium and do not show any synergetic effect when combined with chemical mutagens.

Intracellular Ca Mobilization and Beta-hexosaminidase Release Are Not Influenced by 60 Hz-electromagnetic Fields (EMF) in RBL 2H3 Cells

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers investigated the effects of extremely low frequency EMF on intracellular calcium mobilization and cellular function in RBL 2H3 cells. Exposure to EMF at 0.1 or 1 mT for 4 or 16 hours did not produce cytotoxic effects in RBL 2H3 cells. Melittin, ionomycin, and thapsigargin each dose-dependently increased intracellular calcium concentration. The calcium increases induced by these agents were not affected by EMF exposure. EMF exposure also did not affect basal or melittin-induced beta-hexosaminidase release.

Trends in Wound Repair: Cellular and Molecular Basis of Regenerative Therapy Using Electromagnetic Fields

Unknown authors · 2011

The authors review cellular and molecular mechanisms of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in tissue repair with focus on chronic wounds. The data analysis supports three main effects: anti-inflammatory via cytokine modulation, neo-angiogenic via endothelial cell proliferation and FGF-2 production, and reepithelialization via collagen formation stimulation.

Genotoxic hazard evaluation in welders occupationally exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF)

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers assessed ELF-MF exposure in 21 welders using personal dosimeters and compared micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange frequencies in their lymphocytes to 21 matched controls. The exposed welders had a significantly higher micronuclei frequency (6.10±0.39) than controls (4.45±0.30), and this increase showed a dose-response relationship with ELF-MF exposure levels. Sister chromatid exchange frequency was significantly lower in exposed welders (3.73±0.21) than in controls (4.89±0.12). Replication indices did not differ between exposed and control groups. The authors concluded that the correlation between genotoxic assays and ELF-MF exposure was partially supported, especially for micronuclei, and recommended a larger study.

Analysis of DNA fragmentation in mouse embryos exposed to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers exposed female NMRI mice to a 50-Hz, 0.5 mT electromagnetic field for four hours per day, six days a week over two weeks. After eight days of exposure, the mice were superovulated with hormone injections, mated overnight, and blastocysts were flushed from the uterus at about four days post-mating. The exposed group had significantly fewer blastocysts than controls. DNA fragmentation in blastocyst cells was significantly higher in the exposed group (10.53% vs 7.14%). The numbers of blastomeres and pregnant mice did not differ significantly between groups.

Review of possible modulation-dependent biological effects of radiofrequency fields

Juutilainen J et al · 2011

The review examined studies published after 1998 that compared modulated and unmodulated radiofrequency fields or different modulation types. Most studies reported no modulation-specific effects. A few exceptions indicated possible effects of amplitude-modulated fields on the human central nervous system. The authors concluded these findings warrant follow-up studies.

Thermal thresholds for teratogenicity, reproduction, and development

Unknown authors · 2011

New perspectives in cell communication: Bioelectromagnetic interactions

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers tested whether separate cell populations physically interfere when incubated in close proximity. They used immortalized mouse fibroblasts (NIH3T3) and adult human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECad) seeded in separate polystyrene Petri dishes. Dishes with NIH3T3 cells were placed on top of dishes with endothelial cells at distances of 4mm and 11mm. Cell number and morphology of both cell types were modified in dishes without the black filter, suggesting signals transmitted through the polystyrene walls affected proliferation and morphology.

Whole-genome expression analysis in primary human keratinocyte cell cultures exposed to 60 GHz radiation

Le Quement C et al · 2011

Researchers exposed primary human skin cells to 60.4 GHz radiation at 1.8 mW/cm² for 1, 6, or 24 hours. They used gene expression microarrays with over 41,000 probes to compare exposed and sham cells. No significant gene expression differences were found using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. A t-test identified 130 potentially modulated transcripts. Real-time PCR on 24 selected genes confirmed five genes (CRIP2, PLXND1, PTX3, SERPINF1, TRPV2) as differentially expressed after 6 hours.

A 1-uT extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field vs. sham control for mild-to-moderate hypertension: a double-blind, randomized study

Unknown authors · 2011

In the mind or in the brain? Scientific evidence for central sensitisation in chronic fatigue syndrome

Nijs J et al · 2011

The review examined studies on central sensitization in chronic fatigue syndrome. Various studies showed generalized hyperalgesia in CFS for a variety of sensory stimuli, including electrical stimulation, mechanical pressure, heat and histamine. Various tissues are affected by generalized hyperalgesia: the skin, muscle tissue and the lungs. Generalized hyperalgesia in CFS is augmented following various types of stressors like exercise and noxious heat pain. Endogenous inhibition is not activated in response to exercise and activation of diffuse noxious inhibitory controls following noxious heat application to the skin is delayed.

Do people with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields display physiological effects when exposed to electromagnetic fields? A systematic review of provocation studies

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 29 single or double-blind experiments exposing people with IEI-EMF to different EMF levels and measuring objective outcomes. Five studies reported significant effects including reduced heart rate and blood pressure, altered pupillary light reflex, reduced visual attention and perception, improved spatial memory, movement away from an EMF source during sleep, and altered EEG during sleep. Most of these effects were isolated findings that other studies failed to replicate. Sleep EEG changes were similar in both IEI-EMF participants and non-IEI-EMF controls.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Fact or fiction?

Unknown authors · 2011

Health professionals face patients reporting symptoms they connect to electromagnetic radiation exposure as wireless telecommunication expands. Scientists disagree whether electromagnetic hypersensitivity is a real phenomenon from common exposures or is psychosomatic. The World Health Organization and some nations are exploring this condition linked to non-specific, multi-system, often debilitating symptoms. Patients with EHS report physiological complaints plus social and personal challenges that impair normal functioning. The review provides recommendations for health professionals caring for individuals complaining of EHS.

Oxidative stress, melatonin level, and sleep insufficiency among electronic equipment repairers

Unknown authors · 2011

Occupational and environmental exposure to extremely low frequency-magnetic fields: a personal monitoring study in a large group of workers in Italy

Unknown authors · 2011

Researchers monitored ELF-MF exposure in 543 workers for 2 days using personal meters and calculated time-weighted average levels at work, at home and outside the home. Median exposure at work, at home and outside the home were 0.14, 0.03 and 0.05 μT, respectively. Occupational exposure accounted for about 60% of 24-h exposure. A job-exposure matrix based on the 1988 International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO 88) was created and showed that about 50% of the classified occupations included significantly different individual TWAs. The frequent occurrence of workers with different TWA included under the same job title highlights the risk of misclassification in epidemiological studies on ELF-MF effects based on JEM.

Occupational Exposure of Dentists to Extremely-low-frequency Magnetic Field

Unknown authors · 2011

Average environmental exposure was higher in clinic offices (0.55 µT) than in hospital departments (0.15 µT). Clinic dentists spent more time above 0.3 and 0.4 µT than hospital dentists.

Occupational exposure to magnetic fields from transformer stations and electric enclosures in Turkey

Unknown authors · 2011

Short-term spot measurements using a Narda EFA-300 probe were conducted in two national banks and one industrial company with over 500 employees. Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields up to several tens of μT were measured in these workplaces. Twenty-five percent of measurements were below 0.3 μT, while 75% were above 0.3 μT with a maximum of 6.8 μT. The mean and median personal exposures were 1.19 μT and 0.56 μT, respectively.