Abstract

Increasing exposure to electromagnetic fields has become inevitable for people living in industrialized environments. Magnetic fields can increase the production of free radicals; reports also suggest that extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) can increase free radical life-span. This study evaluated the effects of moderate intensity static magnetic field (SMF) (56 Hz, 41 mT, 6 h/day) on the oxidative status of male rats. Plasma and tissue (liver, heart, kidney, brain and testes) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured after 35 consecutive days of exposure to the SMF. SMF exposure caused significant reductions in the body weight of rats but did not alter relative organ weight. Plasma and tissue MDA concentration were statistically insignificantly reduced, tissue SOD activities were slightly increased, while plasma and liver CAT activities were significantly (p<0.05) increased in SMF exposed rats. The conditions of our study show that while an oxidative challenge was experienced by the rats exposed to SMF, oxidative stress did not occur. Higher intensity SMF and/or longer duration of exposure may however lead to oxidative stress.

Key words: Static magnetic field, oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde.