Electromagnetic fields stress living cells.

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMF), in both ELF (extremely low frequency) and radio frequency (RF) ranges, activate the cellular stress response, a protective mechanism that induces the expression of stress response genes, e.g., HSP70, and increased levels of stress proteins, e.g., hsp70. The 20 different stress protein families are evolutionarily conserved and act as 'chaperones' in the cell when they 'help' repair and refold damaged proteins and transport them across cell membranes. Induction of the stress response involves activation of DNA, and despite the large difference in energy between ELF and RF, the same cellular pathways respond in both frequency ranges. Specific DNA sequences on the promoter of the HSP70 stress gene are responsive to EMF, and studies with model biochemical systems suggest that EMF could interact directly with electrons in DNA. While low energy EMF interacts with DNA to induce the stress response, increasing EMF energy in the RF range can lead to breaks in DNA strands. It is clear that in order to protect living cells, EMF safety limits must be changed from the current thermal standard, based on energy, to one based on biological responses that occur long before the threshold for thermal changes.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The abstract states that EMF in both ELF and RF ranges activate the cellular stress response, including induction of stress response genes (e.g., HSP70) and increased stress proteins. It also states that increasing EMF energy in the RF range can lead to DNA strand breaks and argues that safety limits should be based on biological responses rather than thermal thresholds.

Outcomes measured

• cellular stress response activation
• stress response gene expression (e.g., HSP70)
• increased stress proteins (e.g., hsp70)
• DNA activation
• DNA strand breaks (at higher RF energy)
• implications for EMF safety limits/standards

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.62)
  Abstract discusses changing EMF safety limits from thermal standards to biologically based limits, which relates to guideline-setting bodies.

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    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF and RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "cellular stress response activation",
        "stress response gene expression (e.g., HSP70)",
        "increased stress proteins (e.g., hsp70)",
        "DNA activation",
        "DNA strand breaks (at higher RF energy)",
        "implications for EMF safety limits/standards"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The abstract states that EMF in both ELF and RF ranges activate the cellular stress response, including induction of stress response genes (e.g., HSP70) and increased stress proteins. It also states that increasing EMF energy in the RF range can lead to DNA strand breaks and argues that safety limits should be based on biological responses rather than thermal thresholds.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF",
        "radiofrequency",
        "cellular stress response",
        "HSP70",
        "heat shock proteins",
        "DNA",
        "DNA strand breaks",
        "safety limits",
        "thermal standard"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.61999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Abstract discusses changing EMF safety limits from thermal standards to biologically based limits, which relates to guideline-setting bodies."
        }
    ]
}

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