Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

In vitro developmental neurotoxicity following chronic exposure to 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in primary rat cortical cultures med./bio.

Published in: Toxicol Sci 2016; 149 (2): 433-440

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The neurotoxic effects of exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the development of primary rat cortical neurons should be investigated.

Background/further details

Cells were divided into the following groups: exposure to a magnetic field of 1) 1 µT, 2) 10 µT, 3) 100 µT, 4) 1000 µT and 5) sham exposure.
All data were derived from at least 3 independent experiments.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 7 days
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 7 days
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 7 days
Exposure 4: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 7 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 7 days
Additional info block-pulsed magnetic field with a main frequency of 50 Hz (<10% harmonics)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber incubator
Setup double copper wired solenoid coils fitted into an incubator; coils consisted of one continuous copper conductor; the system generated AC and DC vertical field components
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info sham exposed cells were placed in a second incubator fitted with the same double copper wired solenoid coils, but switched off
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 µT effective value measured - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 7 days
Additional info block-pulsed magnetic field with a main frequency of 50 Hz (<10% harmonics)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 10 µT effective value measured - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 7 days
Additional info block-pulsed magnetic field with a main frequency of 50 Hz (<10% harmonics)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 100 µT effective value measured - -

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 7 days
Additional info block-pulsed magnetic field with a main frequency of 50 Hz (<10% harmonics)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1,000 µT effective value measured - -

Reference articles

  • de Groot MW et al. (2014): Assessment of the neurotoxic potential of exposure to 50Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in naive and chemically stressed PC12 cells

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The basal intracellular calcium concentration (unstimulated) was slightly but significantly decreased in group 4 (1000 µT) compared to the sham exposure group. The stimulated intracellular calcium concentration was significantly increased in group 1 (1 µT) and significantly decreased in group 3 (100 µT) and group 4 compared to the sham exposure group.
The axon outgrowth was significantly increased in group 4 compared to the sham exposure group.
Exposure to the magnetic field had no effect on cell viability and the electrical activity of the cells.
The authors conclude that exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field has only limited neurotoxic effects on the development of primary rat cortical neurons in the case of strong fields.

Study character:

Study funded by

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