• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human fibroblasts after intermittent exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields: a confirmatory study. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To confirm the results of two recent studies (see publication 9990 and publication 9089) on the induction of genotoxic effects in human fibroblasts exposed to 50 Hz intermittent (5 min field on/10 min field off) sinusoidal electromagnetic fields.
Background/further details:
To extend the investigation and validate the data, in the same experimental conditions, the potential genotoxicity was also tested by exposing the cells to a 50 Hz powerline signal.
Positive controls were also provided by treating fibroblasts with hydrogen peroxide or mitomycin C for the comet assay or micronucleus assay, respectively.

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (DNA single-strand breaks)

Exposure
General category: 50/60 Hz (AC), power transmission line

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 50 Hz pure sinusoidal signal exposure duration: intermittent, 5 min field on/10 min field off for 15 or 24 h	magnetic flux density: 1 mT effective value
field 2: 50 Hz power line signal consisting of 50 Hz fundamental frequency as well the harmonics. exposure duration: intermittent, 5 min field on/10 min field off for 15, 18 or 24 h	magnetic flux density: 1 mT effective value

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

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (alkaline comet assay)
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell cycle kinetics (micronucleus assay); cell proliferation (proliferation index); binucleate cell index

Main outcome of study (according to author)
No statistically significant difference was found in exposed compared to sham-exposed samples in any of the experimental conditions tested. In contrast, the positive controls showed a statistically significant increase in DNA damage in all cases, as expected.
Accordingly, the results do not confirm the findings reported previously for either comet induction or an increase in micronucleus frequency.

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

Study funded by

• European Union (EU)/European Commission
• Ministero dell' Università e della Ricerca (MIUR (formerly MURST (Ministero dell' Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica); Ministry of University and Research), Italy
• VERUM Foundation (Stiftung für Verhalten und Umwelt), Germany

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• Harada S et al. (2001): Effects of high ELF magnetic fields on enzyme-catalyzed DNA and RNA synthesis...
• Scarfi MR et al. (1997): 50-Hz, 1-mT sinusoidal magnetic fields do not affect micronucleus frequency and...