title: Induction of DNA strand breaks by intermittent exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields in human diploid fibroblasts.
abstract: Results of epidemiological research show low association of electromagnetic field (EMF) with increased risk of cancerous diseases and missing dose-effect relations. An important component in assessing potential cancer risk is knowledge concerning any genotoxic effects of extremely-low-frequency-EMF (ELF-EMF). Human diploid fibroblasts were exposed to continuous or intermittent ELF-EMF (50Hz, sinusoidal, 24h, 1000microT). For evaluation of genotoxic effects in form of DNA single- (SSB) and double-strand breaks (DSB), the alkaline and the neutral comet assay were used. In contrast to continuous ELF-EMF exposure, the application of intermittent fields reproducibly resulted in a significant increase of DNA strand break levels, mainly DSBs, as compared to non-exposed controls. The conditions of intermittence showed an impact on the induction of DNA strand breaks, producing the highest levels at 5min field-on/10min field-off. We also found individual differences in response to ELF-EMF as well as an evident exposure-response relationship between magnetic flux density and DNA migration in the comet assay. Our data strongly indicate a genotoxic potential of intermittent EMF. This points to the need of further studies in vivo and consideration about environmental threshold values for ELF exposure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital/AKH, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. sabine.ivancsits@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ivancsits
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diem
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilger
authors.forename: Hugo W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Rüdiger
authors.forename: Oswald
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004171:Diploidy; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004247:DNA