• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제17권4호
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2001

Recently, there is an increasing nationwide concern in Korea that exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the home environment may not be safe in humans. To identify possible effects of horizontally polarized magnetic fields (MF) exposure on embryo-fetal development, timed-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats (24/group) received continuous exposure to 60 Hz MF at field strengths of 0 Gauss (sham control), 50mG,833 mG, or 5000 mG. Dams received MF of sham exposures for 22hr/day on gestation days 6 through 20. Experimentally generated MF were monitored continuously througout the study. There was no evidence of maternal toxicity of developmental toxicity in any MF-exposed groups. Mean maternal body weight, organ weights, and gross findings in groups exposed to MF did not differ from those in sham control. No significant differences in fetal deaths, fetal body weight, and placental weight were observed between MF-exposed groups and sham control. External, visceral, and skeletal examination of fetuses demonstrated no significant differences in the incidence of fetal malformations between MF-exposed and sham control groups. In conclusion, exposure of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to 60 Hz at MF strengths up to 5000 mG during gestation day 6-20 did not produce any biologically significant effect in either dams of fetuses.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제49권2호
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2023

Background: The association between exposure to extremely low frequency-magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and childhood leukemia has been controversial. There is a need to clarify this relationship by summarizing key conclusions from systematic review articles. Objectives: The major aim of this study is to summarize key conclusions from systematic review articles on the association between exposure to ELF-MF and childhood leukemia based on childhood exposure to ELF-MF, proximity from childhood household to high voltage cables, and parental occupational exposure to ELF-MF. Methods: This study was conducted through a brief literature review focusing on systematic, meta-analysis, and pooled analysis methods. We conducted a literature search in PubMed using the key words "ELF-MF" and "childhood leukemia" singly or combined. Results: In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed two manuscripts to conduct pooled analysis and concluded that there is a significant association between exposure to >0.3 μT or 0.4 μT and childhood leukemia. We found a total of four manuscripts for systematic or pool analysis that have been published since the IARC's conclusion. They consistently concluded that there was a significant association between exposure to >0.4 μT and childhood leukemia compared to ELF-MF exposure to below 0.1 μT. The proximity of children's households to high voltage cable lines and occupational exposure by their parents to ELF-MF during certain periods prior to or during pregnancy were inconsistently associated with childhood leukemia. The study found that many EU countries have implemented precautionary policies to prevent potential childhood leukemia due to exposure to ELF-MF. Conclusions: This study recommends implementing a precautionary policy that includes legal exposure limits for ELF-MF to minimize exposure to ELF-MF.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국독성학회 2002년도 Current Trends in Toxicological Sciences
• /
• pp.133-133
• /
• 2002

Recently, there is an increasing nationwide concern in Korea that exposure to electric and magnetic fields (MF) in the home environment may not be safe in humans. We previously demonstrated that exposure of MF during the entire period of pregnancy did not induce any adverse effects on both pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development in rats.(omitted)

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.381-392
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Objective of this study is to review briefly exposure characteristics, monitoring instruments and threshold limit values for extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) methods. This study was undertaken through brief literature review. We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify ELF-MF studies conducted in workplaces. Initial search keywords such as 'extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF)' and 'electromagnetic fields (EMF)' combined or singly. We limited our review to occupational rather than general nonworkplace environmental exposures. Methods: The contents we reviewed: key industry and occupations generating ELF-MF, several direct-reading instruments monitoring ELF-MF and threshold limit values (TLV) preventing health effects may be caused by the exposure to ELF-MF. Results: The industries related to the generation and supply of electricity, electrolytic installations, welding, and induction heating and more were regarded as high ELF-MF exposure industries. All jobs handling or employed performed in power cable lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment are found to be exposed to ELF-MF. Threshold or ceiling limit, 1,000 µT, is established to prevent acute effects of exposure to low-frequency EMFs on the nervous system: the direct stimulation of nerve and muscle tissues and the induction of retinal phosphenes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF-MF as possibly carcinogenic to humans chiefly based on epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and several types of cancer including childhood leukemia has not been established nor has any other long-term effects. Risk management using precautionary measures, has been initiated by the US and EU to prevent chronic health effects related to ELF-MF exposure in workplaces. Conclusion: This study recommends the implementation of various measures such as theestablishment of occupational exposure limit values for ELF-MF and precautionary principle to prevent potential chronic occupational health effects may be caused by ELF-MF in Korea.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.123-128
• /
• 2015

Previously, we investigated extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) on diverse DNA damage responses, such as phosphorylated H2AX (${\gamma}H2AX$), comet tail moments, and aneuploidy production in several non-tumorigenic epithelial or fibroblast cell lines. However, the effect of ELF-MF on DNA damage responses in neuronal cells may not be well evaluated. Here, we investigated the effects of ELF-MF on the DNA damage responses in HT22 non-tumorigenic mouse neuronal cells. Exposure to a 60-Hz, 2 mT ELF-MF did not produce any increased ${\gamma}H2AX$ expression, comet tail moments, or aneuploidy formation. However, 2 mT ELF-MF transiently increased the cell number. From the results, ELF-MF could affect the DNA damage responses differently, depending on the cell lines.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2011

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) have the ability to produce a variety of behavioral and physiological changes in animals. The stomach, as the most sensitive part of the neuroendocrine organ of the gastrointestinal tract, is crucial for the initiation of a full stress response against all harmful stress. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether ELF-MF stimuli induce changes in the activity of neuroendocrine cells, considering their involvement in endocrine or paracrine effect on surrounding cells. The exposure to ELF-MF (durations of 24 h and 1 or 2 weeks, 60 Hz frequency, 0.1 mT intensity) altered the distribution and occurrence of gastrin, ghrelin and somatostatinpositive endocrine cells in the stomach of rats. The change, however, in the secretion of those hormones into blood from endocrine cells did not appear significantly with ELF-MF exposure. Comparing with sham control, ELF-MF exposure for 1 and 2 week induced an increase in $BaSO_4$ suspension propelling ratio of gastrointestinal tract, indicating that ELF-MF affects gastrointestinal motility. Our study revealed that ELF-MF exposure might influence the activity of endocrine cells, an important element of the intrinsic regulatory system in the digestive tract. The pathophysiological character of these changes and the mechanism responsible for neuroendocrine cell are still unclear and require further studies.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2
• /
• pp.274.2-274.2
• /
• 2002

Some experiments have been reported that magnetic fields can cause the change of numerous neurotransmitters including excitatory and inhibitory transmitters, which are involved in seizures. In this study we aimed to examine the effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on the sensitivity of seizure response to bicuculline, picrotoxin and NMDA in mice. Mouse were exposed to sham or 20 G ELF-MF for 24 hours and then convulsants were administered i.p. at various doses. (omitted)

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.185-194
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the intensity of the extremely low frequency magnetic fields(ELF-MF) generated inside of the cabins during subway operation. Methods: The ELF-MF intensity were investigated on 30 subway lines in Korea, including in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area(Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province), Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju. ELF-MF intensity was measured at 0.9 m from the floor using EMDEX II meters with a resolution of $0.01{\mu}T$. All data were collected every three seconds and analyzed with EMCALC 2013 version 3.0B software. Basic characteristics of subway operation, including alternative current(AC) or direct current(DC), voltage level, and opening year of the line were investigated. Real-time information during measurement, such as the time of departure, moving and arrival of trains, were also recorded. Results: The arithmetic mean(AM) and maximum(Max) intensity of ELF-MF were $0.62{\mu}T$ and $11.51{\mu}T$, respectively. Compared by region, the ELF-MF intensity measured inside cabin were the highest in the Seoul Metropolitan Area($AM=0.80{\mu}T$), followed by Busan($AM=0.30{\mu}T$), Daegu($AM=0.29{\mu}T$), Incheon($AM=0.14{\mu}T$), Gwangju($AM=0.04{\mu}T$) and Daejeon($AM=0.03{\mu}T$). The average ELF-MF level measured in AC trains($AM=1.36{\mu}T$) was also significantly higher than in DC trains($AM=0.28{\mu}T$). In terms of the opening year of the subway, trains opened before 1990($AM=0.85{\mu}T$) was the highest and the lowest was 2000-2009($AM=0.24{\mu}T$). Conclusions: The AC supply has the greatest influence on the generation of the ELF-MF intensity in subway cabins.

• 한국자기학회지
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.180-184
• /
• 2011

자기장 자극시스템을 통하여 순간펄스 고자기장을 손바닥과 발바닥 그리고 무릎에 인가한 후 체열진단시스템을 통하여 모세혈관을 포함한 인체의 혈관 자극에 의한 혈류개선 효과를 연구하였다. 연령별, 성별 구분을 통하여 자극 후 체열진단을 통해 공통적으로 자극부위에 온도가 상승하는 결과를 얻었으며, 자기장 자극기 코일에서 발생하는 자체 발열량을 제거하기 위해 플라스틱 재질의 성형물로 신체와의 직접적인 접촉을 차단시켰으며 일정거리를 유지하여 실험하였다. 그 결과 비접촉을 통하여 순수하게 자기장의 펄스파형이 피부에 가까운 혈관을 자극하여 내부 전자기 에너지가 피부에 온도상승을 가져온 것으로 고찰된다.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.134-141
• /
• 2015

The effect of a 60 Hz time-varying electric field was studied using a facing-electrode device (FED) and a coplanar-electrode device (CED) for further investigation of the genotoxicity of 60 Hz time-varying magnetic field (MF) from preceding research. Neither a single 30-minute exposure to the CED or to the FED had any obvious biological effects such as DNA double strand break (DSB) and apoptosis in cancerous SCC25, and HeLa cells, normal primary fibroblast IMR90 cells, while exposures of 60 Hz time-varying MF led to DNA damage with induced electric fields much smaller than those used in this experiment. Nor did repetitive exposures of three days or a continuous exposure of up to 144 hours with the CED induce any DNA damage or apoptosis in either HeLa or IMR90 cells. These results imply that the solitary electric field produced by time-varying MF is not a major cause of DSBs or apoptosis in cancer or normal cells.