Detection of the chemical changes in blood, liver, and brain caused by electromagnetic field exposure using Raman spectroscopy, biochemical assays combined with multivariate analyses

Abstract

Overview

The effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on living organisms have been a subject of study for years. This article delves into how an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-MF) specifically influences biological tissues.

Methodology

To analyze the impact, a Merritt Coil System was used to expose biological samples to a 500 μT 50 Hz ELF-MF. The assessed tissues included the cerebellum, left and right brain, and liver. Biochemical assays measured levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) to gauge oxidative stress.

• Collected Raman spectra to identify chemical changes
• Increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant response observed post-exposure
• Notable structural alterations in CH2 vibrations and amide III bonds in brain and liver tissues

Findings

The exposure led to significant structural and quantitative chemical disturbances, with pronounced shifts in Raman spectra and biochemical markers. Results were consistent across control and ELF-MF exposed groups, utilizing principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical component analysis (HCA) for validation.

Conclusion

ELF-MF exposure appears to cause considerable biochemical and structural changes, notably affecting lipid structures and enzyme activity, which might be exacerbated by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).