• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Induction of DNA strand breaks by intermittent exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields in human diploid fibroblasts. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study possible genotoxic effects due to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure in human fibroblasts.
Background/further details:
The study is part of the REFLEX project (risk evaluation of potential environmental hazard from low energy electromagnetic field exposure using sensitive in vitro methods) funded by the European Union, involving 12 independent research groups.

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA single-strand breaks/double-strand breaks

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, low frequency field, 50/60 Hz (AC)

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 50 Hz exposure duration: continuous for 24 hours	magnetic flux density: 1000 µT
field 2: 50 Hz exposure duration: intermittent (patterns see below) for 24 hours	magnetic flux density: 1000 µT
field 3: 50 Hz exposure duration: intermittent (5 min on/10 min off) for 24 hours	magnetic flux density: 20 µT min value magnetic flux density: 2000 µT max value (20, 50, 70, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2500 µT)

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

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA single-strand breaks/double-strand breaks (alkaline and neutral comet assay; "comet tail factor")

Main outcome of study (according to author)
In contrast to continuous extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure, the application of intermittent fields reproducibly resulted in a significant increase of DNA strand break levels, mainly double-strand breaks in comparison to non-exposed controls. The conditions of intermittence showed an impact on the induction of DNA strand breaks, producing the highest levels at "5 min field-on/10 min field-off". Individual differences in response to the electromagnetic field as well as an evident exposure-response relationship between magnetic flux density and DNA migration were also found.
The findings strongly indicate a genotoxic potential of intermittent electromagnetic field. This points to the need of further studies in vivo and consideration about environmental threshold values for extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure.

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

Study funded by

• European Union (EU)/European Commission

• Scarfi MR et al. (2005): Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human fibroblasts after intermittent...
• Focke F et al. (2010): DNA fragmentation in human fibroblasts under extremely low frequency...

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