Manmade Electromagnetic Fields and Oxidative Stress—Biological Effects and Consequences for Health

Abstract

Concomitant with the ever-expanding use of electrical appliances and mobile communication systems, public and occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the extremely-low-frequency and radiofrequency range has become a widely debated environmental risk factor for health. Radiofrequency (RF) EMF and extremely-low-frequency (ELF) MF have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially leading to cellular or systemic oxidative stress, was frequently found to be influenced by EMF exposure in animals and cells. In this review, we summarize key experimental findings on oxidative stress related to EMF exposure from animal and cell studies of the last decade. The observations are discussed in the context of molecular mechanisms and functionalities relevant to health such as neurological function, genome stability, immune response, and reproduction. Most animal and many cell studies showed increased oxidative stress caused by RF-EMF and ELF-MF. In order to estimate the risk for human health by manmade exposure, experimental studies in humans and epidemiological studies need to be considered as well.

Oxidative Stress and NADPH Oxidase: Connecting Electromagnetic Fields, Cation Channels and Biological Effects

“…EMFs act via the activation VGCC in the plasma membrane, producing excessive Ca 2+ , which leads to the pathophysiological effects associated with ROS, such as nitric oxide (NO), superoxide radical (O 2 •− ), and peroxynitrite (ONOOH) [ 6 ]. Studies on the mechanisms related to VGCC and to the associated pleiotropic effects are presented elsewhere [ 1 ].…”

“…Oxidative stress (OS) generation, expressed by the production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), has been linked to the exposure of animals and cells to man-made EMF. The related key experimental studies of the last decade have been presented elsewhere [ 1 ]. However, the biochemical specifics of the biological mechanisms involving the generation of OS are unclear, with the most well studied mechanisms being those involving ion channels.…”

Electromagnetic Fields Modify Redox Balance in the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the influence of common man-made electromagnetic fields on redox balance in the gastrointestinal tract. Available reports are focused mainly on the impact of LF-EMFs and RF-EMFs on nervous systems, which is a consequence of high brain sensitivity and susceptibility to oxidative injuries claimed to play a key role in several neuronal disorders ( 25 ). It is well-established that LF-EMFs and RF-EMFs increase the permeability of the blood–brain barrier.…”

“…The potential influence of LF-MF on redox balance has been assessed in numerous research studies ( 24 , 25 ). Among all tissues of the human body, the brain has the highest sensitivity to oxidative injuries, which is why numerous studies are focused on the influence of LF-EMFs and RF-EMFs on the nervous system.…”

Biomedical Applications of Electromagnetic Detection: A Brief Review

“…The shape, structure, and function of different biological levels will change when a certain intensity of electromagnetic waves penetrate the biological system. In fact, the biological action mechanism is closely related to the frequency, intensity, and duration of electromagnetic fields [14]. The scope of action of biological objects, action time, energy and information exchange methods, and exchange values are all different due to the different characteristics of electromagnetic waves, which brings different applications.…”