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Effects of short term exposure to 60 Hz electromagnetic fields on interleukin 1 and interleukin 6 production by peritoneal exudate cells.

Life sciences · 1994 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5457

Murine peritoneal exudate cells exposed to 60 Hz electric field (300 V/in.), magnetic field (0.3 mT), or combined fields showed no statistically detectable changes in IL-1 alpha after 24 hours or IL-6 after 48 hours compared with controls (one-way ANOVA).

Study snapshot

PublicationLife sciences · 1994
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and human health is of increasing interest. Exposure to EMF has been linked to leukemia and brain tumors in some but not all epidemiological studies. The effects of separate and combined alternating electric and magnetic fields on interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production were measured in this study. Helmholtz coils and parallel plate electrodes were used to create uniform field characteristics (300 V/in., 0.3 mT). Effects were studied at a combined field frequency of 60 Hz. This frequency did not elevate culture temperatures above ambient room temperature. Murine thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) were exposed to an electric field (E), magnetic field (M), combined electric and magnetic field (EM), or no field (control). Three samples of PEC from each mouse were cultured with lipopolysaccharide in each field. Using commercial ELISA kits, supernatants of cell cultures were tested in duplicate after 24 hours of exposure for IL-1 alpha levels and after 48 hours of exposure for IL-6 levels. Results were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). As a group, IL-1 production by the PEC from five mice and IL-6 production by the PEC from nine mice were unaffected by electric, magnetic, or combined electric and magnetic fields. Results from these experiments indicate that the 24-hour exposure to 60 Hz electric, magnetic, or combined electromagnetic fields had no effect on IL-1 production. Forty-eight hours of exposure to the same fields did not affect IL-6 production.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationMurine thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) cultured with lipopolysaccharide
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.06 MHz · 24 h (IL-1) and 48 h (IL-6) exposure
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 86% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Murine peritoneal exudate cells exposed to 60 Hz electric field (300 V/in.), magnetic field (0.3 mT), or combined fields showed no statistically detectable changes in IL-1 alpha after 24 hours or IL-6 after 48 hours compared with controls (one-way ANOVA).

Outcomes measured

  • IL-1 alpha production
  • IL-6 production

Limitations

  • In vitro murine cell culture model; may not generalize to in vivo or human outcomes
  • Sample size details are limited to number of mice (5 for IL-1; 9 for IL-6) without further power/variance information
  • Only one frequency (60 Hz) and one field strength combination reported
  • Outcomes limited to IL-1 alpha and IL-6 at specific timepoints
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "laboratory exposure (Helmholtz coils and parallel plate electrodes)",
    "frequency_mhz": 0.06,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "24 h (IL-1) and 48 h (IL-6) exposure"
  },
  "population": "Murine thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) cultured with lipopolysaccharide",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "IL-1 alpha production",
    "IL-6 production"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Murine peritoneal exudate cells exposed to 60 Hz electric field (300 V/in.), magnetic field (0.3 mT), or combined fields showed no statistically detectable changes in IL-1 alpha after 24 hours or IL-6 after 48 hours compared with controls (one-way ANOVA).",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro murine cell culture model; may not generalize to in vivo or human outcomes",
    "Sample size details are limited to number of mice (5 for IL-1; 9 for IL-6) without further power/variance information",
    "Only one frequency (60 Hz) and one field strength combination reported",
    "Outcomes limited to IL-1 alpha and IL-6 at specific timepoints"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.86,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "60 Hz",
    "electric field",
    "magnetic field",
    "combined fields",
    "Helmholtz coils",
    "parallel plate electrodes",
    "peritoneal exudate cells",
    "mouse",
    "IL-1 alpha",
    "IL-6",
    "cytokines",
    "ELISA",
    "lipopolysaccharide"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Study uses 60 Hz ELF fields relevant to power-frequency exposures, though conducted in vitro rather than in occupational settings."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(94)90162-7
PubMed: 8107523

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