Exposure to low-level magnetic fields can damage brain cell DNA in rats, according to researchers in the Department of Bioengineering.

The study was conducted by Henry Lai, research professor of bioengineering, and Narendra Singh, research assistant professor of bioengineering. Results of their study are scheduled to be published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a journal of the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, available now on the Internet.

The researchers used a 60-hertz magnetic field, similar to those emitted by such common household devices as blow dryers, electric blankets and razors. They found that rats exposed to the field for one day showed significant DNA damage, while those exposed for two days suffered even more broken DNA strands. The exposure also led to brain cell apoptosis, a process in which a cell self-destructs because it is unable to repair itself.

A previous study looked at higher-intensity magnetic fields for only two hours, and showed similar DNA damage. This study differs in that it shows damage from prolonged exposure, as well as a cumulative effect. The results indicate that magnetic fields people are typically exposed to for short periods could add up over time and eventually cause a health effect, the researchers said.