Exploring the EMF-melatonin connection: A review of the possible effects of 50/60-Hz electric and magnetic fields on melatonin secretion

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

Volumn 2, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 37-47

  Lambrozo, Jacques ^a   Touitou, Yvan ^b   Dab, William ^a  

^a EDF R AND D   (France)

^b SORBONNE UNIVERSITÉ   (France)

Author keywords

Animal; Circadian rhythm; Electromagnetic fields; Human; Light; Melatonin; Pineal gland

Indexed keywords

EID: 0002541543     PISSN: 10773525     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1179/oeh.1996.2.1.37     Document Type: Review

References (103)

1. Wilson BW, Stevens RG, Anderson LE. Neuroendocrine mediated effects of electromagnetic field exposure: possible role of the pineal gland. Life Sci. 1989; 45:1319-32.
2. Wilson BW. Neuroendocrine responses to electric and magnetic fields. In: Carpenter DO, Ayrapetyan S. Biological effects of electric and magnetic fields. Vol 1: Sources and Mechanisms. New York: Academic Press; 1994:287-313.
3. Lerner AB, Case SD, Takahashi Y, et al. Isolation of melatonin, the pineal gland factor that lightens melanocytes. Am J Chem Soc. 1958; 80:2587.
4. Axelrod J, Wurtman RJ, Snyder SH. Control of hydroxy indole-o-methyl transferase activity in the rat pineal gland by environmental lighting. J Biol Chem. 1965; 240.949-55.
5. Reiter RJ. Electromagnetic fields and melatonin production. Biomed Pharmacother. 1993; 47:439-44.
6. Arendt J. Melatonin and the pineal gland. London, U.K.: Chapman and Hall, 1995.66-109.
7. Reiter RJ. The mammalian pineal gland: structure and function. Am J Anat. 1981; 162.287-313.
8. Lewy AJ, Wehr TA, Goodwin FK, Newsome DA, Markey SP. Light suppresses melatonin secretion in humans. Science. 1980; 210: 1267-9.
9. Lewy AJ, Wehr TA, Goodwin FK, Newsome DA, Rosenthal NE. Manic depressive patients may be supersensitive to light. Lancet. 1981; 1:383-4.
10. Touitou Y, Arendt J, Pevet P. Melatonin and the pineal gland. From basic science to clinical application. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Melatonin and the Pineal Gland. Paris, 6-9 September 1992. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Excerpta Medica, 1993:393.
11. Touitou Y. Clinical aspects of melatonin secretion. In: Gupta D (ed). Neuroendocrinology: New Frontiers; 1990:244-254.
12. Touitou Y, Fevre A, Bogdan A, et al. Patterns of plasma melatonin with ageing and mental condition: stability of nyctohemeral rhythms and differences in seasonal variations. Acta Endocrinol. 1984; 106:145-51.
13. Vriend J. Evidence for pineal gland modulation of the neuroendocrine-thyroid axis. Neuroendocrinology. 1983; 36.68-78.
14. Soszynski P, Zgliczynski S, Pucilowska J. The circadian rhythm of melatonin in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Acta Endocrinol. 1988; 119.240-4.
15. Touitou Y. Pineal and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis: in search for interaction. In: Reiter RJ, Pang SF (eds). Advances in Pineal Research. London, U.K.: J. Libbey, 1989; 3.241-6.
16. Wright J, Aldhous M, Franey C, English J, Arendt J. The effects of exogenous melatonin on endocrine function in man. Clin Endocrinol. 1986; 24:375-82.
17. Kivela A, Kauppila A, Ylostalo P, Vakkurj O. Seasonal, menstrual and circadian secretions of melatonin, gonadotropins and prolactin in women. Acta Physiol Scand. 1988; 132:321-7.
18. Kivela A, Kauppila A, Leppaluoto J, et al. Serum and amniotic fluid melatonin during human labor. J Clin Endocrin Metab. 1989; 69:1065-8.
19. Reichlin S. Neuroendocrine-immune interactions. N Engl J Med. 1993; 329:1246-53.
20. Champney TH, McMurray DN: In: Fraschini F, Reiter RJ (eds). Role of Melatonin and Pineal Peptides in Neuro-immunomodulation. New York: Plenum Press, 1991:219-25.
21. Maestroni G, Conti A. Melatonin and the immune system. In: Melatonin and the Pineal Gland. From Basic Science to Clinical Application. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Melatonin and the Pineal Gland, Paris, 6-9 September 1992. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Excerpta Medica, 1993:29-33.
22. Lewinski A, Zelazowski P, Sewerinek E, et al. Melatonin-induced suppression of human lymphocytic natural killer activity in vitro. J Pineal Res. 1989; 7;153-64.
23. Nakatani M, Ohara Y, Katagiri E, et al. Studien ūber die zirbellosen weiblichen weissen Ratten. Nippon Butsuri Gakkaishi. 1940; 30:323-36.
24. Regelson W, Pierpaoli W. Melatonin, a rediscovered antitumor hormone? Its relation to surface receptors, sex steroid metabolism, immunologic response, and chronobiologic factors in tumor growth and therapy. Cancer Invest. 1987; 5:379-85.
25. Blask DE, Hill SM. Effects of melatonin on cancer: studies on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture. J Neural Transm. 1986; 21 (suppl):433-49.
26. Philo R, Berkowitz AS. Inhibition of Dunning tumor growth by melatonin. J Urol. 1988; 139:1099-102.
27. Leone AM, Silman RE, Hill BT, et al. Growth inhibitory effects of melatonin and its metabolites against ovarian tumor cell lines in vitro. In: Gupta D, Attanasio A, Reiter RJ (eds). The Pineal Gland and Cancer. London, U.K.: Brain Research Promotion, 1988, 273-81.
28. Aubert C, Prade M, Bouhon C. Effets de la pinéalectomie sur les tumeurs mélaniques du hamster doré induites par l'administration d'une seule dose de 9-10 diméthyl-1-2 benzanuiracène. CR Acad Sci. 1970; 271:2465-8.
29. Tamarkin L, Cohen M, Roselle D, et al. Melatonin inhibition and pinealectomy enhancement of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene-induced mammary tumors in the rat. Cancer Res. 1981; 41: 4432-6.
30. Girod C. Epiphyse. Ed techniques - Encycl Med Chir (Glandes endocrines-nutrition). 1990; 10025A10-12.
31. Wever R. The circadian system in man. New York: Springer Verlag, 1979.
32. Welker HA, Semm P, Willig RP, et al. Effects of an artificial magnetic field on serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin content of rat pineal gland. Exp Brain Res. 1983; 50:426-32.
33. Reuss S, Olcese J. Magnetic field effects on the rat pineal gland: role of retinal activation by light. Neurosci Lett. 1986; 64:97-101.
34. Stehle J, Reuss S, Schroder H, et al. Magnetic field effect on pineal N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin contend in the gerbil. Role of the pigmentation and sex. Physiol Behav. 1988; 44.91-4.
35. Semm P. The magnetic detection system of the pigeon involvement of the pineal and retinal photoreceptors and the vestibular system. In: O'Connor MM, Levely J (eds). Electromagnetic Fields and Neurobehavioral Function. New York: Alan R. Liss, 1988:47-61.
36. Schneider T, Thalau HP, Semm P. Effects of light or different earth-strength magnetic fields on the nocturnal melatonin concentration in a migratory bird. Neurosci Lett. 1994; 168.73-5.
37. Wilson BW, Anderson LE, Hilton DI, et al. Chronic exposure to 60 Hz electric field: effects on pineal function in the rat. Bioelectromagnetics. 1981; 2:371-80.
38. Wilson BW, Anderson LE, Hilton DI, et al. Chronic exposure to 60 Hz electric field: effects on pineal function in the rat. Bioelectromagnetics. 1983; 4:293.
39. Wilson BW, Chess EK, Anderson LE. 60 Hz electric field effects on pineal melatonin rhythms: time course for onset and recovery. Bioelectromagnetics. 1986; 7:239-42.
40. Reiter RJ, Anderson LE, Buschbom RL, et al. Reduction of the nocturnal rise in pineal melatonin levels in rats exposed to 60 Hz electric fields in utero and for 23 days after birth. Life Sci. 1988, 42:2203-6.
41. Grota LJ, Lu S, Reiter R, et al. Melatonin secretion by rats exposed to electric fields (meeting abstract). Bioelectromagnetics Society, 13th Annual Meeting, 23-27 June, 1991, Salt Lake City, Utah:106.
42. Sasser LB, Morris JE, Buschbom RL, et al. Effect of 60 Hz electric fields on pineal melatonin during various times of the dark period. Annual Review of Research on Biological Effects of 50 and 60 Hz Electric and Magnetic Fields, November 3-7, 1991, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. U.S. Department of Energy, 1991:A-24.
43. Grota LJ, Reiter RJ, Keng P, et al. Electric field exposure alters serum melatonin but not pineal melatonin synthesis in male rats Bioelectromagnetics. 1994; 15:427-37.
44. Yellon SM. Acute 60 Hz magnetic field exposure effects on the melatonin rhythm in the pineal gland and circulation to the adult Djungarian hamster. J Pineal Res. 1994; 16:136-44.
45. Yellon SM, Gottfried L. An acute 60 Hz magnetic field exposure suppresses the night-time melatonin rhythm in the adult Djungarian hamster in short days. Annual Review of Research on Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields from the Generation, Delivery and Use of Electricity, November 8-12, 1992, San Diego, California. U.S. Department of Energy, 1992:A-22.
46. Wilson BW, Morris JE, Sasser LB, et al. Changes in the hypothalamus and pineal gland on Djungarian hamsters from short-term exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields. Annual Review of Research on Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields from the Generation, Delivery and Use of Electricity, October 31-November 4, 1993, Savannah, Georgia. U.S. Department of Energy, 1993:A-30.
47. Kato M, Honma K, Shigemitsu T, et al. Effects of exposure to a circularly polarized sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic field on plasma and pineal melatonin levels in rats. Bioelectromagnetics. 1993; 14:97-106.
48. Kato M, Honma KS, Shigemitsu T, et al. Horizontal or vertical 50 Hz, 1 μT magnetic fields have no effect on pineal gland or plasma melatonin concentration of albino rats. Neurosci Lett. 1994; 168:205-8.
49. Lynch HL, Deng WH, Wurtman RJ. Light intensities required to suppress nocturnal melatonin secretion in albino and pigmented rats. Life Sci. 1984; 35:841-7.
50. Kato M, Honma KS, Shigemitsu T, et al. Circularly polarized 50 Hz magnetic field exposure reduces pineal gland and blood melatonin concentrations in Long-Evans rats. Neurosci Lett. 1994; 166:59-62.
51. Lerchl A, Nonaka KO, Reiter RJ. Pineal gland "magnetosensitivity" to static magnetic fields is a consequence of induced electric currents (eddy currents). J Pineal Res. 1991; 10:109-16.
52. Loscher W, Wahnschaffe U, Mevissen M, et al. Effects of weak alternating magnetic fields on nocturnal melatonin production and mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Oncology. 1994; 51:288-95.
53. Lee JM Jr., Stormshak F, Thompson JM, et al. Melatonin secretion and puberty in female lambs exposed to environmental electric and magnetic fields. Biol Reprod. 1993; 49.857-64.
54. Rogers WR, Orr JL, Reiter RJ. 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields and primate melatonin. In: Blank M (ed). Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine. San Francisco, California: San Francisco Press, 1993:393-397.
55. Wilson BW, Wright CW, Morris JE, et al. Evidence for an effect of ELF electromagnetic fields on human pineal gland function. J Pineal Res. 1990; 9.259-69.
56. Graham C, Cook MR, Cohen HD, et al. EMF suppression of nocturnal melatonin in human volunteers. Annual Review of Research on Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields from the Generation, Delivery and Use of Electricity, October 31-November 4, 1993, Savannah, Georgia. U.S. DOE, 1993:A-31.
57. Graham CH, Cook MR, Cohen HD, et al. Nocturnal melatonin levels in men exposed to magnetic fields: a replicate study. Annual Review of Research on Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields from the Generation, Delivery and Use of Elecricity, November 6-10, 1994, Albuquerque, New Mexico. U.S.Department of Energy, 1994:A-51.
58. Liburdy RP, Stoma TR, Sokovic R, et al. ELF magnetic fields, breast cancer and melatonin: 60 Hz fields block melatonin's oncostatic action on ER+ breast cancer cell proliferation. J Pineal Res. 1993; 13:89-97.
59. Davis DL, Hoel D, Fox J, et al. International trends in cancer mortality in France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, England and Wales, and the USA. Lancet. 1990; 336:474-81.
60. Stevens RG, Davis G, Thomas DB, et al. Electric power, pineal function, and the risk of breast cancer. FASEB J. 1992; 6:853-60.
61. Hahn RA. Profound bilateral blindness and the incidence of breast cancer. Epidemiology. 1991; 2:208-10.
62. Czeisler CA, Shanahan TL, Klerman EB, et al. Suppression of melatonin secretion in some blind patients by exposure to bright light. N Engl J Med. 1995; 332:6-11.
63. Tynes T, Andersen A. Electromagnetic fields and breast cancer (letter). Lancet. 1990; 336:1596.
64. Demers PA, Thomas DB, Rosenblatt KA, et al. Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and breast cancer in men. Am J Epidemiol. 1991; 134:340-7.
65. Loomis DP. Cancer of breast among men in electric occupations. Lancet. 1992;339:1482-3.
66. Matanoski GM, Breysse PN, Elliott EA. Electromagnetic field exposure and male breast cancer. Lancet. 1991; 337:737.
67. Floderus B, Tornqvist S, Stenlund C. Incidence of selected cancers in Swedish railway workers, 1961-79. Cancer Causes Control. 1994; 5:189-94.
68. Rosenbaum PF, Vena JE, Zielezny MA, et al. Occupational exposures associated with male breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 1994; 139:30-6.
69. Theriault G, Goldberg M, Miller AB, et al. Cancer risks associated with occupational exposure to magnetic fields among electric utility workers in Ontario and Quebec, Canada and France: 1970-1989. Am J Epidemiol. 1994; 139:550-72.
70. Savitz DA, Loomis DP. Magnetic field exposure in relation to leukemia and brain cancer mortality among electric utility workers. Am J Epidemiol. 1995; 141:123-34.
71. McDowall ME. Mortality of persons resident in the vicinity of electrical transmission facilities. Br J Cancer. 1986; 53:271-9.
72. Vena JE, Graham S, Hellman R, et al. Use of electric blankets and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 1991; 134:180-5.
73. Vena JE, Freudenheim JL, Marshall JR, et al. Risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and use of electric blankets. Am J Epidemiol. 1994; 140.974-9.
74. Schreiber GH, Swaen GM, Meijers JM, et al. Cancer mortality and residence near electricity transmission equipment: a retrospective cohort study. Int J Epidemiol. 1993; 22:9-15.
75. Guenel P, Raskmark P, Bach Andersen J, et al. Cancer incidence in persons with occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in Denmark. Br J Ind Med. 1993; 50:758-64.
76. Vagero D, Ahlbom A, Olin R, et al. Cancer morbidity among workers in the telecommunications industry. Br J Ind Med. 1985; 42:191-5.
77. Loomis DP, Savitz DA, Ananth CV. Breast cancer mortality among female electrical workers in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1994; 86:921-5.
78. Sandyk R, Anastasiadis PG, Anninos PA, Tsagas N. Is the pineal gland involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma? Int J Neurosci. 1992; 62.89-96.
79. Doll R, Fraumeni JF Jr, Muir CS. Trends in cancer incidence and mortality. Vol 19/20. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1994:10-20.
80. Rogers WR, Coelho AM, Easley SP. Effects of 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields on operant and social behavior and on neuroendocrine system of non-human primates. Draft final report. 1992. Soudiwest Research Institute. U.S. Department of Energy Contract.
81. Sulzman FM, Murrish DE. Effects of elecromagnetic fields on primates' circadian rhythms. Technical Report prepared for the New York State Power Lines Project, Wadsworth Labs, E-297, Empire State Plaza. Albany, New York, 1986.
82. Asanova TP, Rakov AI. The state of health of persons working in electric field of outdoor 400- and 500-kV switch yards. In: Knickerbocker G (ed). Hygiene of Labor and Professional Diseases, vol. 5, trans IEEE Power Engineering Society Spec. Pub. 10, 1975. Piscataway, New Jersey: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1966.
83. Knave B, Gamberale F, Bergstrom S, et al. Long-term exposure to electric fields: a cross sectional epidemiologic investigation of occupationally exposed workers in high-voltage substations. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1979, 5:115-25.
84. Broadbent DE, Broadbent MH, Male JC, et al. Health of workers exposed to electric fields. Br J Ind Med. 1985; 42:75-84.
85. Baroncelli P, Battisti S, Checucci A, et al. A health examination of railway high-voltage substation workers exposed to ELF electromagnetic fields. Am J Ind Med. 1986, 10.45-55.
86. Gamberale F, Olson BA, Eneroth P, et al. Acute effects of ELF electromagnetic fields: a field study of linesman working with 400 kV power lines. Br J Ind Med. 1989; 46:729-37.
87. Baris D, Armstrong B. Suicide among electric utility workers in England and Wales. Br J Ind Med. 1990; 47:788-9.
88. Savitz DA, Boyle CA, Holmgreen P. Prevalence of depression among electrical workers. Am J Ind Med. 1994; 25:165-76.
89. Reichmanis M, Perry FS, Marino AA, et al. Relation between suicide and the elecromagnetic field of overhead power lines. Physiol Chem Phys. 1979; 11:395-403.
90. Perry S, Pearl L, Binns R. Power frequency magnetic field; depressive illness and myocardial infarction. Public Health. 1989; 103:177-80:
91. Poole C, Kavet R, Funch DP, et al. Depressive symptoms and headaches in relation to proximity of residence to an alternating-current transmission line right-of-way. Am J Epidemiol. 1993; 137:318-30.
92. McMahan S, Ericson J, Meyer J. Depressive symptomatology in women and residential proximity to high-voltage transmission lines. Am J Epidemiol. 1994; 139.58-63.
93. Guenel P, Lellouch J. Effets des champs électriques et magnétiques de très basse fréquence sur la santé. Paris: INSERM, 1992.
94. Rosenthal NE, Sack DA, Jacobsen FM, et al. Melatonin in seasonal affective disorder and phototherapy. J Neural Transm. 1986; 21 (suppl):257-67.
95. Thompson C, Franey C, Arendt J, et al. A comparison of melatonin secretion in depressed patients and normal subjects. Br J Psychiatry. 1988; 152:260-5.
96. Lewy AJ, Sack RL, Miller LS, et al. Antidepressant and circadian phase-shifting effects of light. Science. 1987; 235:352-4.
97. Tan D, Reiter RJ, Chen LD, et al. Both physiological and pharmacological levels of melatonin reduce DNA adduct formation induced by the carcinogen safrole. Carcinogenesis. 1994; 15:215-8.
98. Reiter RJ, Poeggeler B, Tan DX, et al. Melatonin suppression by magnetic fields and the relation to cancer: a theoretical hypothesis to explain the interactions. Annual Review of Research on Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields from the Generation, Delivery and Use of Electricity, October 31-November 4, 1993, Savannah, Georgia. U.S. Department of Energy, 1993:A-33.
99. Benz RD, Carsten AL, Baum JW, et al. Mutagenicity and toxicity of 60 Hz magnetic and electric fields. Technical Report prepared for the New York State Power Lines Project, Wadsworth Labs, E-297, Empire State Plaza. Albany, New York, 1987.
100. Cohen MM. In vitro genetic effects of electromagnetic fields. Technical Report prepared for the New York State Power Lines Project, Wadsworth Labs, E-297, Empire State Plaza. Albany, New York, 1986.
101. Livingston GK, Gandhi OP, Chatterjee I, et al. Reproductive integrity of mammalian cells exposed to 60 Hz electromagnetic fields. Technical Report prepared for the New York State Power Lines Project, Wadsworth Labs, E-297, Empire State Plaza. Albany, New York, 1986.
102. Frazier ME, Reese JA, Morris JE, et al. Exposure of mammalian cells to 60 Hz magnetic or electric fields: analysis of DNA repair on induced single-strand breaks. Bioelectromagnetics. 1990; 11:229-34.
103. Nafziger J, Desjobert H, Benamar B, et al. DNA mutations and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields. Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics. 1993; 30:133-41.