Medical/biological study (experimental study)

DNA and chromosomal damage in response to intermittent extremely low-frequency magnetic fields. med./bio.

By: Burdak-Rothkamm S, Rothkamm K, Folkard M, Patel G, Hone P, Lloyd D, Ainsbury L, Prise KM

Published in: Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 2009; 672 (2): 82-89

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the ability of alternating magnetic fields to induce DNA and chromosomal damage in primary human fibroblasts.

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 5 min on - 10 min off - for 15 h	magnetic flux density: 50 µT minimum magnetic flux density: 100 µT magnetic flux density: 500 µT magnetic flux density: 1,000 µT maximum

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	5 min on - 10 min off - for 15 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	solenoid
Setup	200 mm long solenoid with a diameter of 100 mm and 400 turns of 1.5 mm copper wire plus 52 turns at either end that can be energized independently in order to enhance the field uniformity; solenoid housed in a double-skinned mu-metal enclosure within a temperature-controlled incubator
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	50 µT	minimum	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	500 µT	-	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	1,000 µT	maximum	-	-	-

Reference articles

Winker R et al. (2005): Chromosomal damage in human diploid fibroblasts by intermittent exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields.
Ivancsits S et al. (2005): Cell type-specific genotoxic effects of intermittent extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields.

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human fibroblasts

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: single-strand breaks, double-strand breaks (alkaline comet assay; gamma-H2AX assay), sister chromatid exchange (fluorescence plus Giemsa stain); detection of unstable chromosomes and chromatid type aberrations (Giemsa stain) and formation of micronuclei (Giemsa stain)

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Data of DNA single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks and visible chromosomal alterations after exposure of primary human fibroblasts to alternating magnetic fields did not lead to significant levels of damage being detected, and so yet the positive findings from the REFLEX project could not be confirmed.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

EMF Biological Research Trust (EMFBRT), UK

Sun C et al. (2018): Ataxia telangiectasia mutated deficiency does not result in genetic susceptibility to 50 Hz magnetic fields exposure in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Zhu K et al. (2016): Extremely low frequency magnetic fields do not induce DNA damage in human lens epithelial cells in vitro.
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Ivancsits S et al. (2003): Age-related effects on induction of DNA strand breaks by intermittent exposure to electromagnetic fields.
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