Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effect of weak 50 Hz magnetic fields on the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro med./bio.

By: Zmyslony M, Rajkowska E, Mamrot P, Politanski P, Jajte J
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2004; 25 (8): 607-612
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The aim of the study was verification of the hypothesis that weak power frequency magnetic fields affected the number of free oxygen radicals in living cells and that these alterations could be qualitatively explained by the radical pair mechanism. Iron ions (FeCl2) were used to stimulate the oxidation processes.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Suspensions in a water bath were placed inside the coils with the temperature maintained at 37°C
Additional info The axis of Helmholtz coils was along or crosswise to the vertical component of the geomagnetic field. An identical water bath with control samples was placed in the natural static magnetic field of about 50 µT.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 20 µT effective value measured - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 40 µT effective value measured - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 200 µT effective value measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Only in the lymphocytes exposed at 40 µT magnetic field directed along the Earth's static magnetic field there was a decrease of fluorescence in comparison to non-exposed samples. This observation seems to confirm the hypothesis that low level power frequency magnetic field affects oxidative processes which occur in living cells and that this effect can be explained by the radical pair mechanism.

Study character:

Study funded by

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