{"title":"Why Low-Frequency EMF Safety Would Benefit From Peak-Based Limits Instead of RMS Values","authors":"Florian Soyka, Carsten Alteköster","doi":"10.1002/bem.70051","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bem.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Current low-frequency EMF exposure limits are based on RMS values. However, the hazard at low frequencies, neural and muscular stimulation is driven by instantaneous peak values. Because action potentials follow an all-or-nothing threshold, even a single suprathreshold cycle can trigger excitation, whereas long-term RMS averages can be arbitrarily reduced by inserting pauses into signals. Pulsed or bursty fields—such as those emitted by certain deactivators used in electronic article surveillance—may comply with RMS-based limits despite containing peaks capable of exceeding physiological thresholds. Reformulating both basic restrictions and reference levels in terms of peak values would align exposure limits with neurophysiological mechanisms and provide clearer guidance for ensuring safety. As ICNIRP revises its 2010 low-frequency guidelines, this is an opportune moment to adopt peak-based limits and better protect workers and the general public.</p>","PeriodicalId":8956,"journal":{"name":"Bioelectromagnetics","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13020177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147509502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guofeng Cheng, Hongxin Zhao, Xinmiao Ji, Lei Zhang, Lei Zhu, Bo Wu, Zehua Li, Yanwen Fang, Zhongcai Liao, Min Wei, Junfeng Wang, Xin Zhang, Biao Yu
{"title":"Enhanced Effects of Static Magnetic Field Combined With FGF21SS in Diabetic Mice","authors":"Guofeng Cheng, Hongxin Zhao, Xinmiao Ji, Lei Zhang, Lei Zhu, Bo Wu, Zehua Li, Yanwen Fang, Zhongcai Liao, Min Wei, Junfeng Wang, Xin Zhang, Biao Yu","doi":"10.1002/bem.70048","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bem.70048","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The increasing diabetic population, as well as the prevalence of high-fat diet-induced pre-diabetic conditions, have made it imperative to develop more effective and safe long-term prevention and treatment strategies. In recent years, both the physical method static magnetic field (SMF), and the endogenous hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) have shown promising treatment efficacy in type 2 diabetic animals. In this study, we further examined the effects of SMFs and FGF21<sup>SS</sup> (a thermal-stable FGF21 analog) on the other two types of diabetes, pre-diabetes and type 1 diabetes (T1D) in mice. Our results show that continuous SMF exposure alone can reduce hyperglycemia by 28.5% (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in T1D mice and 12.5% (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in pre-diabetic mice. Moreover, SMF can significantly enhance the anti-diabetic effects of FGF21<sup>SS</sup>, and the fasting blood glucose reduction was increased from 29.3% in FGF21<sup>SS</sup> groups to 50.3% in the combinational groups for T1D mice (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and from 9.7% in FGF21<sup>SS</sup> groups to 19.2% in the combinational groups for pre-diabetic mice (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Tissue examination shows that the combination of SMF and FGF21SS can effectively reduce oxidative stress in the mouse liver and pancreatic islets, as well as lipid deposition in the liver, which contributes to alleviating diabetes. Therefore, our study presents an effective and safe strategy that can be potentially applied in diabetes management in the future.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8956,"journal":{"name":"Bioelectromagnetics","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147289194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vivian Meyer, Karen Drees, Isabel Alexandra Gronau, Alexander Lerchl
{"title":"Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure (50 Hz, 200 µT) on Cell Viability, DNA Damage and Micronucleus Formation of Human Skin Cells","authors":"Vivian Meyer, Karen Drees, Isabel Alexandra Gronau, Alexander Lerchl","doi":"10.1002/bem.70046","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bem.70046","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Both everyday electrical devices and high voltage transmission lines produce electric and magnetic fields with a frequency of 50 Hz in Europe and most other countries. Although several studies have already been investigating the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) exposure on biological material, this topic is still debated. High-quality research is still needed to keep the available data up to date and to decrease the low-quality study design bias. We investigated the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields with an intensity of 200 µT (rms) on HaCaT cells, an immortal keratinocyte cell line derived from adult human skin cells. The exposure system allowed standard in vitro cultivation and blinded experimental design with simultaneous exposure and sham-exposure for 2 or 24 h. The biological endpoints were measured using the WST-1 assay (cell viability), the alkaline comet assay (DNA integrity), and the micronucleus test (chromosomal distribution). The results show no significant effects of the parameters mentioned. Our data support the assessment that 50 Hz ELF-MF up to 200 µT do not cause health effects. This study contributes valuable knowledge to the existing pool of evidence for the effects of ELF-MF on human cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":8956,"journal":{"name":"Bioelectromagnetics","volume":"47 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12877723/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146123537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zane W. Cohick, Brad W. Hoff, David Revelli, Jason Cox, Hammad Irshad, Amanda Snider, Ariel Arndt, Daniel A. Enderich, Jeremy W. McCohaha, James A. Schrock, Bennett L. Ibey, Robert J. Thomas, John W. Luginsland, William P. Roach, Donald A. Shiffler
Jennifer Hummel, Rafaela Hardt da Silva, Heloiza dos Santos Baldança, Helena Mafra Martins, Isadora Paravisi, Khiany Mathias, Anita dal Bó Tiscoski, Naíla Maciel Andrade, Daniel Fernandes Martins, Josiel Mileno Mack, Fabricia Petronilho, Franciane Bobinski
{"title":"Optimization of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Parameters Attenuates Mechanical Hyperalgesia and Selectively Modulates Inflammatory and Oxidative Markers in a CFA-Induced Inflammatory Pain Mouse Model","authors":"Jennifer Hummel, Rafaela Hardt da Silva, Heloiza dos Santos Baldança, Helena Mafra Martins, Isadora Paravisi, Khiany Mathias, Anita dal Bó Tiscoski, Naíla Maciel Andrade, Daniel Fernandes Martins, Josiel Mileno Mack, Fabricia Petronilho, Franciane Bobinski","doi":"10.1002/bem.70044","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bem.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pain poses a global challenge involving sensory, cognitive, and emotional mechanisms, necessitating effective treatments. In this study, we evaluate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), a noninvasive low-frequency signal with potential anti-inflammatory effects, in male Swiss mice after a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation. The aim was to identify the optimal PEMF pulse frequency (5, 50, or 75 Hz) and treatment duration (10, 20, or 30 min) for analgesic effects, assessed by mechanical hyperalgesia, and to investigate peripheral (paw) and central (spinal cord, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex) inflammatory and oxidative responses following CFA administration. Emotion-related behaviors were also assessed; however, CFA did not induce detectable anxiety- or depression-like alterations under the experimental conditions used. The best antihyperalgesic effect was at 75 Hz, particularly with 20 and 30 min of treatment, without affecting paw edema. A 20-min PEMF treatment at 75 Hz reduced TNF levels in the paw and increased SOD enzyme activity in the paw and spinal cord, indicating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects both peripherally and centrally. These results confirm PEMF's antihyperalgesic effect, identifying 75 Hz and 20 min as optimal parameters. Understanding PEMF mechanisms could lead to new therapeutic targets, improving pain management in patients with inflammatory conditions, and altering the underlying pathological process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8956,"journal":{"name":"Bioelectromagnetics","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146040315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marie Eggeling-Böcker, Efthymios Karabetsos, Maria Christopoulou, Sarah C. Link, Ferdinand Abacioglu, Christoph Boehmert
{"title":"RF-EMF Risk Perception and Trust in Radiation Protection Authorities: A Comparative Study on Precautionary Information in Germany and Greece","authors":"Marie Eggeling-Böcker, Efthymios Karabetsos, Maria Christopoulou, Sarah C. Link, Ferdinand Abacioglu, Christoph Boehmert","doi":"10.1002/bem.70042","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bem.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates how different types of precautionary information affect risk perception and trust in national radiation protection authorities regarding radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile communications, with a specific focus on 5G networks. A total of 2169 participants (1040 in Germany, 1129 in Greece) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) basic information, (2) simple precautionary information regarding possibilities to reduce personal RF-EMF exposure while using a mobile phone, and (3) conceptual precautionary information, including an explanation distinguishing “precaution” from “prevention” (1 × 3 factorial design). Contrary to the expectation that simple precautionary messages lead to higher risk perception and lower trust compared to basic messages, this was only the case for general conditional risk perception assuming that no precautions are taken, but not for affective risk perception, trust, or general conditional risk perception assuming that precautions are taken. Notably, providing a more elaborate explanation of the precaution/prevention distinction did not decrease risk perception or increase trust compared to giving simple precautionary information only, and even increased risk perception compared to basic information. This suggests limited benefit in emphasizing this conceptual nuance of precaution. Considering other variables, precautionary information increased feelings of self-efficacy and perception of message consistency. The findings reveal significant country differences: Greek participants reported higher perceived risks and lower trust than German participants. Gender differences also emerged, with women expressing higher risk perception and less trust than men. In contrast to the previous literature, the results suggest that precautionary information concerning personal mobile phone use can be communicated without leading to higher public concern about RF-EMF exposure from mobile communications. However, we found some evidence that adding conceptual explanations to precautionary information leads to higher risk perception. The results also show that considering sociocultural and individual differences in risk communication can be relevant. Possible explanations for the findings and implications for risk communicators are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":8956,"journal":{"name":"Bioelectromagnetics","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12777509/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145910370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}