Immune stimulation in fish and chicken through weak low frequency electromagnetic fields

Abstract

A hypothesis is proposed how Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field (LF EMF) exposure can stimulate an immune response, based on recent insights in immunology. We hypothesize that the Immunent EMF treatment induces mild stress to cells, which then produce cytokines that function as alarms or so called danger signals for the immune system. In this way EMF treatment takes the place of multiplying pathogens, and the damage these cause, in the triggering of an immune response. In a first series of experiments in vitro common carp head kidney-derived phagocytes were used to determine ROS production as a measure for immune activation. Exposure to LF EMF signals (200-5,000 Hz) at 5 lT or 1.5 mT led to 42 or 33% increase in immune activity, respectively, compared to negative control values. EMF could also additionally stimulate chemically pre-stimulated samples up to 18% (5 lT) or 22% (1.5 mT). Significance of increase in ROS production in the total series was: p < 0.0001. In a second series of experiments in vitro commercial goldfish were used. Groups of fish were housed under equal conditions in at least four control tanks and 8-16 EMF-exposed tanks. Exposure was done with a predominantly vertical field at field strengths (rms) between 0.15 and 50 lT. Without treatment mortality was about 50% after 18 days, while the treatment at 5 lT reduced it to 20% on average. At field strengths 0.15, 0.5, 1.5, 5, 15 and 50 lT an equally strong effect was found. Reducing the field strength to 0.05, 0.06, 0.01 and 0.003 lT showed a gradually decreasing effect, which only at 0.003 lT is no longer statistically significant. Finally, in vitro experiments were done with 560 commercial broiler chickens exposed to infection pressure from coccidiosis. EMF exposure at 6.5 lT reduced intestinal lesions by 40% and improved feed conversion by 8%.

In vitro 50 Hz magnetic field long-term exposure: Cytogenetic tests on human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells and validation of the test environment

“…showed less DNA damage) compared to cells exposed to the mutagen only [14] . Other similar examples have been reported in the literature [2 , 24] , and therefore, this phenomenon requires further investigation.…”

A Novel Magnetic Stimulator Increases Experimental Pain Tolerance in Healthy Volunteers - A Double-Blind Sham-Controlled Crossover Study

“…Dose-dependency of PEMF effects is generally very steep and has been described for different systems to occur below 1 mT [10], below 500 nT [29] and even below 50 nT [30]. It appears that the two field strengths used in our study (0.4 and 1.1 mT) both induced the maximum effect.…”

“…Thresholds for PEMF effects on living systems have been estimated at 500 nT [29] and even 50 nT [30]. Flux density was measured in our study at five distances from the coils with flux density values between 1 mT and 0.1 mT.…”

Gaps in Knowledge Relevant to the “Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric and Magnetic Fields (1 Hz–100 kHz)”

“…Single publications from laboratory studies have identified detectable effects of ELF on bacteria (50 Hz, 0.1 -1.0mT: Cellini et al 2008), Daphnia (50Hz and above: Krylov 2008), and in vitro preparations from fish and chickens (200 Hz and above, [1.5-5mT]: Cuppen et al 2007).…”