Chromosomal damage in human diploid fibroblasts by intermittent exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields.

PAPER pubmed Mutation research 2005 In vitro study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2005.04.013 PMID: 16009595 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Environmental exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) has been implicated in the development of cancer in humans. An important basis for assessing a potential cancer risk due to ELF-EMF exposure is knowledge of biological effects on human cells at the chromosomal level. Therefore, we investigated in the present study the effect of intermittent ELF electromagnetic fields (50 Hz, sinusoidal, 5'field-on/10'field-off, 2-24 h, 1 mT) on the induction of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations in cultured human fibroblasts. ELF-EMF radiation resulted in a time-dependent increase of micronuclei, which became significant after 10 h of intermittent exposure at a flux density of 1 mT. After approximately 15 h a constant level of micronuclei of about three times the basal level was reached. In addition, chromosomal aberrations were increased up to 10-fold above basal levels. Our data strongly indicate a clastogenic potential of intermittent low-frequency electromagnetic fields, which may lead to considerable chromosomal damage in dividing cells.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Cultured human diploid fibroblasts

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF · 0.05 MHz · Intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 2–24 h

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Intermittent 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure at 1 mT produced a time-dependent increase in micronuclei, becoming significant after 10 h and reaching about three times basal levels after ~15 h. Chromosomal aberrations were reported to increase up to 10-fold above basal levels.

Outcomes measured

Micronuclei (MN) induction
Chromosomal aberrations

Limitations

In vitro cell culture study; relevance to human health outcomes not directly assessed
Sample size and statistical details not provided in the abstract
Only one field strength (1 mT) and one frequency (50 Hz) described in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 2–24 h"
    },
    "population": "Cultured human diploid fibroblasts",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Micronuclei (MN) induction",
        "Chromosomal aberrations"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Intermittent 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure at 1 mT produced a time-dependent increase in micronuclei, becoming significant after 10 h and reaching about three times basal levels after ~15 h. Chromosomal aberrations were reported to increase up to 10-fold above basal levels.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro cell culture study; relevance to human health outcomes not directly assessed",
        "Sample size and statistical details not provided in the abstract",
        "Only one field strength (1 mT) and one frequency (50 Hz) described in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "extremely low-frequency",
        "50 Hz",
        "intermittent exposure",
        "1 mT",
        "human diploid fibroblasts",
        "micronuclei",
        "chromosomal aberrations",
        "clastogenic"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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