• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Effects of co-exposure to extremely low frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields and xenobiotics determined in vitro by the alkaline comet assay. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To investigate in vitro the possible genotoxic and/or co-genotoxic activity of extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 3 mT intensity in human peripheral blood leukocytes from 4 different donors.
Background/further details:
Two model mutagens were used to study the possible interaction between extremely low frequency magnetic field and xenobiotics: N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG; 0.05 µg/ml) and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4NQO; 0.8 µg/ml).

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, 50/60 Hz (AC), power transmission line, inhouse wiring

Field characteristics	Parameters
50 Hz exposure duration: continuous for 30, 60 or 120 min	magnetic flux density: 3 mT effective value

Exposed system:
intact cell/cell culture (in vitro)

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (DNA strand breaks; alkaline Comet assay)
• molecular biosynthesis: glutathione content (colorimetric assay)
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell viability (fluorochrome-mediated viability test; fluorescence microscopy)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
Extremely low frequency magnetic field affected the genotoxic activity of MNNG and 4NQO in a different manner: The genotoxicity of MNNG was significantly enhanced by exposure, whereas in the case of 4NQO a decrease in the genotoxicity of this compound was revealed in the presence of an extremely low frequency magnetic field.
Moreover, an increased concentration of glutathione was found in exposed cells. Since it is known that following glutathione conjugation (oxidation of two glutathiones to glutathione disulfide) the genotoxic pattern of MNNG and 4NQO is quite different, an influence of extremely low frequency magnetic field on the activity of the enzyme involved in the synthesis of glutathione leading to a different activation/deactivation of the mutagens used was hypothesized to explain different trends observed in MNNG and 4NQO genotoxic activity in the presence of the magnetic field.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• not stated

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