Exposure of rats to a 50-Hz, 30-mT magnetic field influences neither the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges nor proliferation characteristics of cultured peripheral lymphocytes.
The issue of potential carcinogenic effects of extremely low-frequency (50/60-Hz) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) has developed almost completely from epidemiological studies suggesting a link between residential or occupational exposure to EMF and an elevated risk of various cancers. Concerning chromosome-altering effects of EMF, in vitro studies gave ambiguous results and only few in vivo studies have been done. In the present study, we investigated the effect of long-term exposure of rats to a 50-Hz, 30-mT magnetic field (MF) on cell proliferation and frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in peripheral lymphocytes of rats following exposure to MF for 7 or 28 days. As a positive control, rats were treated with cyclophosphamide. In contrast to cyclophosphamide, MF exposure influenced neither SCE frequencies nor proliferation characteristics of cultured peripheral lymphocytes.
Zwingelberg
R
R
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Hannover, Germany.
Obe
G
G
Rosenthal
M
M
Mevissen
M
M
Buntenkötter
S
S
Löscher
W
W
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D003520:Cyclophosphamide