Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Age-related effects on induction of DNA strand breaks by intermittent exposure to electromagnetic fields med./bio.

By: Ivancsits S, Diem E, Jahn O, Rüdiger HW

Published in: Mech Ageing Dev 2003; 124 (7): 847-850

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of an intermittent electromagnetic field exposure on the DNA in relation to human fibroblasts from donors of different ages.

Background/further details

The human fibroblasts were maintained from six healthy donors in the age of 6, 14, 28, 43, 56 and 81 years.

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (DNA strand breaks)

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off for 1-24 h in 1 h steps.	magnetic flux density: 1 mT unspecified

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off for 1-24 h in 1 h steps.

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	two four coil systems with 56 and 50 windings each of which was placed inside a µ-box; current in the bifilar coils could be switched parallel for field exposure or non parallel for sham exposure

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	1 mT	unspecified	unspecified	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human fibroblasts

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks (alkaline and neutral comet assay)

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

DNA strand breaks increased with exposure time, being largest at 15-19 hours. The DNA strand break levels declined thereafter, but did not return to basal levels.
Cell strains of different donors exhibited different basal levels, maxima and end levels of DNA strand breaks.
The fibroblasts from older individuals exhibited higher DNA strand break levels and they started to decline later than those from younger donors.
These findings suggest an age-related slow down of DNA repair efficiency of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field induced DNA strand breaks.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
short communication
blind study

Study funded by

European Union (EU)/European Commission

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