We showed no alteration in their melatonin secretion (plasma level or circadian profiles) which strongly suggests that ELF-EMF do not have cumulative effects on melatonin secretion in humans, and thus clearly rebuts the melatonin hypothesis that

a decrease in blood melatonin concentration (or a disruption in its secretory pattern) explains the occurrence of clinical disorders or cancers possibly related to ELF-EMF.125 Table IIIa. Magnetic field reports on a melatonin secretion decrease Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in humans. Mel, melatonin; aMT6s, 6 sulfatoxymelatonin; M, male; F: female; MF, magnetic field; NG, not given Table IIIb. Magnetic field reports on the lack of effect on melatonin secretion in humans. Mel, melatonin; Pl, plasma; Ser, serum; Sal, saliva; aMT6s, 6 sulfatoxymelatonin; M, male; F, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical female; BMI, body mass index; MF, magnetic field; RF, radio frequency; NG, not … ELF-EMF effects on cortisol and corticosterone In contrast to the number of studies on the effects of ELF-EMF on melatonin secretion, few data are available in the literature on the pituitary adrenal axis. The hormones under

study (corticosterone for rats, cortisol for other mammals), exposure characteristics (short- and long-term), and timing and duration of exposure Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (1 to 6 months) in different animal species are detailed in Table IV. Table IV. Effects of EMF on cortisol or corticosterone secretion in different animal species. Pl, plasma; Se, serum; NG, not given While the majority of papers failed to find any effect,131-137 others have

reported either an increase in the hormonal concentrations138-144 or a decreased concentration.145 The results of these studies are thus Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical inconsistent and contradictory. Comparison between studies revealed that the discrepancy in the results might be due in part to the difference in the animal species used (rabbit, ewe lambs, cows, rats, or mice), class of age, and duration and intensity of exposure. Another Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical factor that should be taken into account is that glucorticoids (ie, cortisol or corticosterone) levels are sensitive to many stressors that might affect hormone levels. It is well known that handling or bleeding animals increase corticosterone, a stress marker, and it is thus important those to ensure that any external confounding stressor has to be controlled. Overall, these data suggest that no consistent effects have been seen in the stress-related hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis in a variety of CHIR-99021 research buy mammalian species. Data on ELF-EMF effects on cortisol in humans are scarce. We have found 7 papers on the matter (Table V).109,124,146-149 All of these papers report only on short exposure of adult volunteers to ELF-EMF, and all failed to find any effect. Table V. Magnetic field reports on cortisol secretion in humans. Ser, serum; Pl, plasma; M, male; F, female; MF, magnetic field Conclusion We are all exposed to electric and magnetic fields of weak intensity.