Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Dec 10;11(6):1330-9.
doi: 10.5114/aoms.2015.56362. Epub 2015 Dec 11.

The effect of electromagnetic radiation emitted by display screens on cell oxygen metabolism - in vitro studies

Małgorzata Lewicka  1 , Gabriela A Henrykowska  1 , Krzysztof Pacholski  2 , Janusz Śmigielski  3 , Maciej Rutkowski  4 , Maria Dziedziczak-Buczyńska  1 , Andrzej Buczyński  1
Affiliations

The effect of electromagnetic radiation emitted by display screens on cell oxygen metabolism - in vitro studies

Małgorzata Lewicka et al. Arch Med Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Research studies carried out for decades have not solved the problem of the effect of electromagnetic radiation of various frequency and strength on the human organism. Due to this fact, we decided to investigate the changes taking place in human blood platelets under the effect of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by LCD monitors.

Material and methods: The changes of selected parameters of oxygen metabolism were measured, i.e. reactive oxygen species concentration, enzymatic activity of antioxidant defence proteins - superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and catalase (CAT) - and malondialdehyde concentration (MDA). A suspension of human blood platelets was exposed to electromagnetic radiation of 1 kHz frequency and 150 V/m and 220 V/m intensity for 30 and 60 min. The level of changes of the selected parameters of oxidative stress was determined after the exposure and compared to the control samples (not exposed).

Results: The measurements revealed an increase of the concentration of reactive oxygen species. The largest increase of ROS concentration vs. the control sample was observed after exposure to EMF of 220 V/m intensity for 60 min (from x = 54.64 to x = 72.92). The measurement of MDA concentration demonstrated a statistically significant increase after 30-min exposure to an EMF of 220 V/m intensity in relation to the initial values (from x = 3.18 to x = 4.41). The enzymatic activity of SOD-1 decreased after exposure (the most prominent change was observed after 60-min and 220 V/m intensity from x = 3556.41 to x = 1084.83). The most significant change in activity of catalase was observed after 60 min and 220 v/m exposure (from x = 6.28 to x = 4.15).

Conclusions: The findings indicate that exposure to electromagnetic radiation of 1 kHz frequency and 150 V/m and 220 V/m intensity may cause adverse effects within blood platelets' oxygen metabolism and thus may lead to physiological dysfunction of the organism.

Keywords: LCD monitors; catalase; malondialdehyde; reactive oxygen species; superoxide dismutase.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Laboratory stand designed for reconstruction of the parameters of electromagnetic radiation generated by display screens
Figure 2
Figure 2
Concentration of reactive oxygen species in blood platelets exposed to electromagnetic radiation dependent on the intensity and exposure time (n = 36)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) in blood platelets exposed to electromagnetic field dependent on the intensity and exposure time (n = 37)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT) in blood platelets exposed to electromagnetic radiation dependent on the intensity and exposure time (n = 37)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood platelets exposed to electromagnetic radiation dependent on the intensity and exposure time (n = 37)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Asanowi T, Rakov A. The state of health of persons working in electric fields of outdoor 400 and 500 kV switch-yard. Gin. Tr Prof Zabol. 1966;10:50–2.
    1. Röösli M, Egger M, Pfluger D, Minder C. Cardiovascular mortality and exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields: a cohort study of Swiss railway workers. Environ Health. 2008;7:35. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Merzenich H, Schmiedel S, Bennack S, et al. Childhood leukemia in relation to radio frequency electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of TV and radio broadcast transmitters. Am J Epidemiol. 2008;168:1169–78. - PubMed
    1. Schuz J, Ahlbom A. Exposure to electromagnetic fields and the risk of childhood leukaemia: a review. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2008;132:202–11. - PubMed
    1. Misra H, Fridovich J. The role of superoxide anion in the autooxidation of epinephrine and a simple assay superoxide dismutase. J Biol Chem. 1972;247:3170–5. - PubMed