Do 100- and 500-µT ELF magnetic fields alter beta-amyloid protein, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde in rat brains?

ABSTRACT

Several studies still state that presently accepted safety standards for extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) do not provide adequate protection, and therefore the standards are still open to question. To help resolve this question, the aim of this study was to illuminate the interaction between biomolecules and ELF-MFs by investigating the effect of ELF-MFs on beta-amyloid protein (BAP), protein carbonyl (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat brain. For this study, 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, which were divided into two experimental groups and a sham exposed group. Rats in two experimental groups were exposed to 100- and 500-µT ELF-MFs (50 Hz) for 2 h/day for 10 months, which are the generally accepted safety standards for public and occupational exposures. The same procedures were applied to the rats in the sham group, but with the generator turned off. The results of this study showed that neither ELF-MFs used in this study altered BAP level significantly (p>0.05). However, PC and MDA levels were increased by the exposure to 100- and 500-µT ELF-MFs (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, both PC and MDA levels were altered by long-term exposure to either 100 or 500 µT ELF-MF. However, many further and more comprehensive studies will be required to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between ELF-MFs exposure and living organisms.