title: Effects of co-exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and benzene or benzene metabolites determined in vitro by the alkaline comet assay.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated in vitro the possible genotoxic and/or co-genotoxic activity of 50 Hz (power frequency) magnetic fields (MF) by using the alkaline single-cell microgel-electrophoresis (comet) assay. Sets of experiments were performed to evaluate the possible interaction between 50 Hz MF and the known leukemogen benzene. Three benzene hydroxylated metabolites were also evaluated: 1,2-benzenediol (1,2-BD, catechol), 1,4-benzenediol (1,4-BD, hydroquinone), and 1,2,4-benzenetriol (1,2,4-BT). MF (1 mT) were generated by a system consisting of a pair of parallel coils in a Helmholtz configuration. To evaluate the genotoxic potential of 50 Hz MF, Jurkat cell cultures were exposed to 1 mT MF or sham-exposed for 1h. To evaluate the co-genotoxic activity of MF, the xenobiotics (benzene, catechol, hydroquinone, and 1,2,4-benzenetriol) were added to Jurkat cells subcultures at the beginning of the exposure time. In cell cultures co-exposed to 1 mT (50 Hz) MF, benzene and catechol did not show any genotoxic activity. However, co-exposure of cell cultures to 1 mT MF and hydroquinone led to the appearance of a clear genotoxic effect. Moreover, co-exposure of cell cultures to 1 mT MF and 1,2,4-benzenetriol led to a marked increase in the genotoxicity of the ultimate metabolite of benzene. The possibility that 50 Hz (power frequency) MF might interfere with the genotoxic activity of xenobiotics has important implications, since human populations are likely to be exposed to a variety of genotoxic agents concomitantly with exposure to this type of physical agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, I-06126 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villarini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simonucci
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fatigoni
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scassellati-Sforzolini
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monarca
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelucci
authors.forename: Maila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strappini
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002396:Catechols / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000633:toxicity; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; D006873:Hydroquinones; D009153:Mutagens; C013038:hydroxyhydroquinone; D001554:Benzene; C034221:catechol; C031927:hydroquinone