Genotoxicity of intermediate frequency magnetic fields in vitro and in vivo
← Research streamAcross in vitro (rat primary astrocytes) and in vivo (male C57BL/6 J mice) experiments, results did not support genotoxicity or co-genotoxicity of 7.5 kHz magnetic fields up to 300 µT. The authors report some evidence that 7.5 kHz exposure might reduce geneti…
Study snapshot
Abstract
Genotoxicity of intermediate frequency magnetic fields in vitro and in vivo Herrala M, Kumari K, Koivisto H, Luukkonen J, Tanila H, Naarala J, Juutilainen J. Genotoxicity of intermediate frequency magnetic fields in vitro and in vivo. Environ Res. 2018 Sep 8. pii: S0013-9351(18)30494-8. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.009. Abstract We assessed genotoxic effects of intermediate frequency magnetic fields (MF) in vitro and in vivo. Rat primary astrocytes were exposed for 24 h to a 7.5 kHz MF at a magnetic flux density of 30 or 300 µT. Male C57BL/6 J mice were exposed continuously for 5 weeks to a 7.5 kHz MF at 12 or 120 μT, and blood samples were collected for the genotoxicity assays. To evaluate possible co-genotoxicity, the in vitro experiments included combined exposure with menadione (an agent that induces mitochondrial superoxide production and DNA damage) and methyl methanesulfonate (an alkylating agent). DNA damage and DNA repair (in vitro) were measured using the alkaline Comet assay and formation of micronuclei was assessed microscopically (in vivo) or using flow cytometry (in vitro). The results did not support genotoxicity or co-genotoxicity of 7.5 kHz MFs at magnetic flux densities up to 300 µT in vitro or in vivo. On the contrary, there was some evidence that exposure to 7.5 kHz MFs might reduce the level of genetic damage. Strongest indication of any biological effects was obtained from measurements of relative cell number, which was significantly and consistently increased after MF exposure in all in vitro experiments. Health implications of this finding are unclear, but it suggests that 7.5 kHz MFs may stimulate cell proliferation or suppress cell death. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
AI evidence extraction
Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.
Main findings
Across in vitro (rat primary astrocytes) and in vivo (male C57BL/6 J mice) experiments, results did not support genotoxicity or co-genotoxicity of 7.5 kHz magnetic fields up to 300 µT. The authors report some evidence that 7.5 kHz exposure might reduce genetic damage, and relative cell number was significantly and consistently increased after MF exposure in all in vitro experiments.
Outcomes measured
- DNA damage (alkaline Comet assay)
- DNA repair (in vitro; alkaline Comet assay)
- Micronuclei formation (in vivo microscopy; in vitro flow cytometry)
- Relative cell number (in vitro)
Limitations
- Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
- Health implications of increased relative cell number described as unclear
- In vitro co-exposure agents (menadione, methyl methanesulfonate) may limit generalizability to real-world exposures
View raw extracted JSON
{
"study_type": "animal",
"exposure": {
"band": "intermediate frequency",
"source": null,
"frequency_mhz": 0.0075,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": "In vitro: 24 h; In vivo: continuous for 5 weeks"
},
"population": "Rat primary astrocytes (in vitro) and male C57BL/6 J mice (in vivo)",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"DNA damage (alkaline Comet assay)",
"DNA repair (in vitro; alkaline Comet assay)",
"Micronuclei formation (in vivo microscopy; in vitro flow cytometry)",
"Relative cell number (in vitro)"
],
"main_findings": "Across in vitro (rat primary astrocytes) and in vivo (male C57BL/6 J mice) experiments, results did not support genotoxicity or co-genotoxicity of 7.5 kHz magnetic fields up to 300 µT. The authors report some evidence that 7.5 kHz exposure might reduce genetic damage, and relative cell number was significantly and consistently increased after MF exposure in all in vitro experiments.",
"effect_direction": "mixed",
"limitations": [
"Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
"Health implications of increased relative cell number described as unclear",
"In vitro co-exposure agents (menadione, methyl methanesulfonate) may limit generalizability to real-world exposures"
],
"evidence_strength": "low",
"confidence": 0.78,
"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"keywords": [
"intermediate frequency",
"magnetic field",
"7.5 kHz",
"genotoxicity",
"co-genotoxicity",
"Comet assay",
"micronuclei",
"astrocytes",
"C57BL/6 J mice",
"menadione",
"methyl methanesulfonate",
"cell proliferation"
],
"suggested_hubs": []
}AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.
Identifiers and source
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.009
PubMed: Not supplied
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