title: Exposure of mammalian cells to 60-Hz magnetic or electric fields: analysis for DNA single-strand breaks.
abstract: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were exposed for 1 h to 60-Hz magnetic fields (0.1 or 2 mT), electric fields (1 or 38 V/m), or to combined magnetic and electric fields (2 mT and 38 V/m, respectively). Following exposure, the cells were lysed, and the DNA was analyzed for the presence of single-strand breaks (SSB), using the alkaline elution technique. No significant differences in numbers of DNA SSB were detected between exposed and sham-exposed cells. A positive control exposed to X-irradiation sustained SSB with a dose-related frequency. Cells exposed to nitrogen mustard (a known cross-linking agent) and X-irradiation demonstrated that the assay could detect cross-linked DNA under our conditions of electric and magnetic field exposures.
authors.affiliation: Biology and Chemistry Department, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Jostes
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Frazier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D008280:Magnetics
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded