A 60 Hz magnetic field does not affect the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas in SENCAR mice.
Two groups of SENCAR mice were treated with a single dose of carcinogen and then, for 23 weeks, with a chemical tumor promoter to induce skin tumors. During this period, one group was coexposed to a 2 mT power frequency (60 Hz) magnetic field, while the other was exposed to sham conditions. Application of the tumor promoter ceased after 23 weeks, but the exposure to sham conditions or magnetic fields continued for an additional 29 weeks. No difference was found between the two groups of mice in terms of the incidence of total tumors (P =.297) or squamous cell carcinomas (SSC) (P =.501). In summary, there was no evidence to support the hypotheses that 60 Hz magnetic fields (MF) can influence the development of either papillomas or SSC under our defined experimental conditions. The overall results add to previous animal studies that find no association between exposure to 60 Hz MF and the incidence of benign or malignant tumors.
McLean
J R
JR
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada. john_mclean@shaw.ca
Thansandote
A
A
McNamee
J P
JP
Tryphonas
L
L
Lecuyer
D
D
Gajda
G
G
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D001415:Back / Q000528:radiation effects; D002273:Carcinogens; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000528:radiation effects; D004560:Electricity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D018632:Mice, Inbred SENCAR; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
D002273:Carcinogens; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate