Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Genotoxicity investigation of ELF-magnetic fields in Salmonella typhimurium with the sensitive SOS-based VITOTOX test med./bio.

By: Verschaeve L, Anthonissen R, Grudniewska M, Wudarski J, Gevaert L, Maes A

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2011; 32 (7): 580-584

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the genotoxicity of extremely low frequency magnetic fields alone or in combination with known chemical mutagens using a sensitive test system (VITOTOX test) with Salmonella typhimurium.

Background/further details

The effect of magnetic field exposure alone and in combination with the three well-known mutagens 4-NQO (0.04 and 0.4 µg/ml), bleomycin (0.125 and 1.25 µg/ml) and benzpyrene (80 and 800 µg/ml), and the non-DNA-reactive chemical resorcinol (whose mutagenicity is questionable; 0.1 and 1 µg/ml) was investigated.

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: genotoxic response of Salmonella typhimurium

Exposure

- co-exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 1 or 2 h	magnetic flux density: 100 µT magnetic flux density: 500 µT

General information

Bacteria were treated in ten groups: i) EMF exposure only ii) EMF exposure + 4-NQO iii) EMF exposure + bleomycin iv) EMF exposure + benzpyrene v) EMF exposure + resorcinol vi) 4-NQO only vii) bleomycin only viii) benzpyrene only ix) resorcinol only x) sham exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 or 2 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	42 cm long cylindrical coil with an inner diameter of 20 cm and 380 turns; bacteria cultures placed in 96-well plates in the middle of the coil
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	500 µT	-	-	-	-

Reference articles

Verheyen GR et al. (2003): Effect of coexposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields and an aneugen on human lymphocytes, determined by the cytokinesis block micronucleus assay
Maes A et al. (2000): Cytogenetic effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields of different magnetic flux densities

Exposed system:

bacterium
Salmonella typhimurium/TA-104-recN2-4 (with luciferase gene and recN promoter: produces light when DNA is damaged) & TA104-pr1 (with lux gene under a constitutive promoter: light production not influenced by genotoxic compounds (internal control))

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: genotoxic response (SOS response) of Salmonella typhimurium (VITOTOX test: light emission measurement every 5 min. for 4 h)

Investigated system:

bacterium

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that extremely low frequency magnetic fields did not induce SOS response-based mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium bacteria and did not show any synergistic effect when combined with chemical mutagens.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
Brief Communication

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Verschaeve L et al. (2016): Co-exposure of ELF-magnetic fields and chemical mutagens: An investigation of genotoxicity with the SOS-based VITOTOX test in Salmonella typhimurium
Ruiz-Gomez MJ et al. (2010): No evidence of cellular alterations by MilliTesla-level static and 50 Hz magnetic fields on S. cerevisiae
Ruiz-Gomez MJ et al. (2010): Effect of 2.45 mT sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic field on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains deficient in DNA strand breaks repair
Vijayalaxmi et al. (2009): Genetic damage in mammalian somatic cells exposed to extremely low frequency electro-magnetic fields: a meta-analysis of data from 87 publications (1990-2007)
Nakasono S et al. (2008): Intermediate frequency magnetic fields do not have mutagenic, co-mutagenic or gene conversion potentials in microbial genotoxicity tests
Vijayalaxmi et al. (2008): Genetic damage in mammalian somatic cells exposed to radiofrequency radiation: a meta-analysis of data from 63 publications (1990-2005)
Williams PA et al. (2006): 14.6 mT ELF magnetic field exposure yields no DNA breaks in model system Salmonella, but provides evidence of heat stress protection
Nakasono S et al. (2000): A 50 Hz, 14 mT magnetic field is not mutagenic or co-mutagenic in bacterial mutation assays
Maes A et al. (2000): Cytogenetic effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields of different magnetic flux densities
Alipov YD et al. (1994): Systemic reaction of E. coli cells to weak electromagnetic fields of extremely low frequency