Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on human physiology: plasma melatonin levels

Wood, Andrew W.; Sait, Mardi L.; Armstrong, S.M.; Martín, Maria J.

doi:10.1109/icbem.1998.666445

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Evidence suggests that D-Glucose and L-Lactate cycles are controlled by melatonin, a neuropeptide present in crustaceans [49]. Earlier studies have suggested that EMF exposure impacts melatonin levels by decreasing melatonin synthesis [53][54][55]. This study adds more evidence to this hypothesis by finding similar circadian disruption in D-Glucose and L-Lactate at 500 µT and 1000 µT EMF exposure.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) from Submarine Power Cables Can Trigger Strength-Dependent Behavioural and Physiological Responses in Edible Crab, Cancer pagurus (L.)

Scott¹,

Harsanyi

Easton³

et al. 2021

JMSE

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The current study investigated the effects of different strength Electromagnetic Field (EMF) exposure (250 µT, 500 µT, 1000 µT) on the commercially important decapod, edible crab (Cancer pagurus, Linnaeus, 1758). Stress related parameters were measured (l-Lactate, d-Glucose, Total Haemocyte Count (THC)) in addition to behavioural and response parameters (shelter preference and time spent resting/roaming) over 24 h periods. EMF strengths of 250 µT were found to have limited physiological and behavioural impacts. Exposure to 500 µT and 1000 µT were found to disrupt the l-Lactate and d-Glucose circadian rhythm and alter THC. Crabs showed a clear attraction to EMF exposed (500 µT and 1000 µT) shelters with a significant reduction in time spent roaming. Consequently, EMF emitted from MREDs will likely affect crabs in a strength-dependent manner thus highlighting the need for reliable in-situ measurements. This information is essential for policy making, environmental assessments, and in understanding the impacts of increased anthropogenic EMF on marine organisms.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) from Submarine Power Cables Can Trigger Strength-Dependent Behavioural and Physiological Responses in Edible Crab, Cancer pagurus (L.)

Scott¹,

Harsanyi

Easton³

et al. 2021

JMSE

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“…For acute effects, like cell death, it is known that there are dose-rate effects. Thus, it is important (113) whether the total dose is given in small fractions of very fast, highly intense radiation. In contrast to that, in non-ionising radiation, the acute effects are determined by the intensity of the radiation or fields, and in most cases, cumulative effects are not assumed to occur.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pineal melatonin level disruption in humans due to electromagnetic fields and ICNIRP limits

Halgamuge

2012

Radiation Protection Dosimetry

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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies electromagnetic fields (EMFs) as 'possibly carcinogenic' to humans that might transform normal cells into cancer cells. Owing to high utilisation of electricity in day-to-day life, exposure to power-frequency (50 or 60 Hz) EMFs is unavoidable. Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by pineal gland activity in the brain that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle. How man-made EMFs may influence the pineal gland is still unsolved. The pineal gland is likely to sense EMFs as light but, as a consequence, may decrease the melatonin production. In this study, more than one hundred experimental data of human and animal studies of changes in melatonin levels due to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields exposure were analysed. Then, the results of this study were compared with the International Committee of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) limit and also with the existing experimental results in the literature for the biological effect of magnetic fields, in order to quantify the effects. The results show that this comparison does not seem to be consistent despite the fact that it offers an advantage of drawing attention to the importance of the exposure limits to weak EMFs. In addition to those inconsistent results, the following were also observedfrom this work: (i) the ICNIRP recommendations are meant for the well-known acute effects, because effects of the exposure duration cannot be considered and (ii) the significance of not replicating the existing experimental studies is another limitation in the power-frequency EMFs. Regardless of these issues, the above observation agrees with our earlier study in which it was confirmed that it is not a reliable method to characterise biological effects by observing only the ratio of AC magnetic field strength to frequency. This is because exposure duration does not include the ICNIRP limit. Furthermore, the results show the significance of disruption of melatonin due to exposure to weak EMFs, which may possibly lead to long-term health effects in humans.

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