Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Cell type-specific genotoxic effects of intermittent extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields. med./bio.

By: Ivancsits S, Pilger A, Diem E, Jahn O, Rudiger HW

Published in: Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 2005; 583 (2): 184-188

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether intermittent extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields exposure causes similar effects in cell types other than human fibroblasts.

Background/further details

Temperature was continuously monitored and temperature difference between the chambers did not exceed 0.3°C.

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: intermittent, 5 min on/10 min off, for 1 to 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 to 24 h in 1 h steps
Additional info	vertical magnetic field

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	four coil systems, two coils with 56 windings and two coils with 50 windings; both coil systems were placed inside mu-metal boxes which were then placed in a commercial incubator (5% CO₂, 37°C, 95% humidity)

Parameters

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

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human diploid fibroblast cells; SV40-transformed GFSH-R17 rat granulosa cells; human melanocytes; skeletal muscle cells; human monocytes; human lymphocytes

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage, DNA strand breaks (alkaline and neutral comet assay)

Investigated material:

DNA/RNA

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data show that the induction of DNA strand breaks by exposure to intermittent extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields is cell type-specific. The authors could identify three responder (human fibroblasts, human melanocytes, rat granulosa cells) and three non-responder cell types (human lymphocytes, human monocytes, human skeletal muscle cells), which points to the significance of the cell system used when investigating genotoxic effects.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

European Union (EU)/European Commission

Comments on this article

Rudiger HW et al. (2006): Reply to the letter by Vijayalaxmi et al.

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