title: The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes induced by benzo(a)pyrene.
abstract: The interaction of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in human lymphocytes was examined. A 60 Hz ELF-EMF of 0.8 mT field strength was applied either alone or with the tumor initiator, BP for 24 h. The frequencies of MN and SCE induced by BP increased in a dose-dependent manner. The co-exposure of cells to BP and 0.8 mT ELF-EMF for 24 h, followed by BP exposure for 48 h led to significant increases in the frequencies of MN and SCE compared to BP treatment for 72 h alone (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between field exposed and sham exposed control cells. The obtained results suggest that low density ELF-EMF could act as an enhancer of the initiation process of BP rather than as an initiator of mutagenic effects in human lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 28 Yunkeun-dong, Chongno-ku, Seoul 110-460, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hai Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene