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Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Magnetic Fields on Trace Element Levels in Guinea Pigs

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Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can affect living cells due to biochemical changes, followed by changes in levels of trace elements in serum and different organs. This study focuses on the effect of whole body exposure to EMF, presented everywhere in our environment, and on the levels of trace elements in serum, femur, brain, kidney, and liver tissues. The analyses performed on 29 guinea pigs were divided into five groups. Guinea pigs were exposed to a magnetic field of 50 Hz of 1.5 mT. Groups A and B were exposed to the magnetic field for a period of 4 h/day continuously (4 h/day) for 4 and 7 days, respectively. Groups C and D were exposed to the magnetic field for a period of 4 h/day intermittently for 4 and 7 days, respectively. Group E animals were enrolled as control. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) levels were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in serum, femur, brain, kidney, and liver tissues in all guinea pigs. When compared to the control groups, the changes in the levels of Cu in serum samples, femur, and kidney tissues of the treated groups were statistically significant. The same was also true for the levels of Mg in the brain, kidney, and lung tissues. Our results suggest that in vivo continuous and intermittent exposure to EMF may cause disturbances in homeostasis of bioelements. These effects could be important risk factors for toxic effects of EMF, especially in relation to deterioration of bioelements.

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Acknowledgements

The authors offer special thanks to Ms. Özge Çevik and Ms. Pınar Targan for syntax corrections of manuscript in point of English. The authors thank Dr. Mehmet Zahid Tüysüz and Arın Tomruk for their contributions on exposure experiments. The work was supported by Gazi University Scientific Research Grant (BAP: 01/2004-96).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey

    Onur Erdem

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Cemal Akay

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Literature, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Sule Coşkun Cevher

  4. Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayse Gulnihal Canseven & Nesrin Seyhan

  5. Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ahmet Aydın

Authors
  1. Onur Erdem
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  2. Cemal Akay
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  3. Sule Coşkun Cevher
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  4. Ayse Gulnihal Canseven
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  5. Ahmet Aydın
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  6. Nesrin Seyhan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Onur Erdem.

Ethics declarations

All animals received human care according to the criteria outlined in the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” prepared by the National Academy of Sciences and published by the National Institutes of Health, USA. The experimental design of this study was approved by the Gazi University Ethics Research Committee of Animal Experiments (GU. ET-April 26, 2006, B.30.2.Day.0.EU.00.00/39-5858).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Cemal Akay is retired.

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Erdem, O., Akay, C., Cevher, S.C. et al. Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Magnetic Fields on Trace Element Levels in Guinea Pigs. Biol Trace Elem Res 181, 265–271 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-1053-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-1053-8

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