DNA fragmentation in human fibroblasts under extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure.

Mutation research · 2010 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

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MixedModerate evidencePaper 4409

Intermittent exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 1 mT caused a slight but significant increase in DNA fragmentation in human fibroblasts, linked to magnetic field effects and dependent on cell proliferation. Effects were associated with reduced DNA replication and i…

Study snapshot

PublicationMutation research · 2010

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) were reported to affect DNA integrity in human cells with evidence based on the Comet assay. These findings were heavily debated for two main reasons; the lack of reproducibility, and the absence of a plausible scientific rationale for how EMFs could damage DNA. Starting out from a replication of the relevant experiments, we performed this study to clarify the existence and explore origin and nature of ELF-EMF induced DNA effects. Our data confirm that intermittent (but not continuous) exposure of human primary fibroblasts to a 50 Hz EMF at a flux density of 1 mT induces a slight but significant increase of DNA fragmentation in the Comet assay, and we provide first evidence for this to be caused by the magnetic rather than the electric field. Moreover, we show that EMF-induced responses in the Comet assay are dependent on cell proliferation, suggesting that processes of DNA replication rather than the DNA itself may be affected. Consistently, the Comet effects correlated with a reduction of actively replicating cells and a concomitant increase of apoptotic cells in exposed cultures, whereas a combined Fpg-Comet test failed to produce evidence for a notable contribution of oxidative DNA base damage. Hence, ELF-EMF induced effects in the Comet assay are reproducible under specific conditions and can be explained by minor disturbances in S-phase processes and occasional triggering of apoptosis rather than by the generation of DNA damage.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionmixed

Populationhuman primary fibroblasts

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 70% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

DNA fragmentation measured by Comet assay
cell proliferation
apoptosis
oxidative DNA base damage

Limitations

sample size not specified
duration of exposure not detailed
in vitro study limits generalizability

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "human primary fibroblasts",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA fragmentation measured by Comet assay",
    "cell proliferation",
    "apoptosis",
    "oxidative DNA base damage"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Intermittent exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 1 mT caused a slight but significant increase in DNA fragmentation in human fibroblasts, linked to magnetic field effects and dependent on cell proliferation. Effects were associated with reduced DNA replication and increased apoptosis, without notable oxidative DNA base damage.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "sample size not specified",
    "duration of exposure not detailed",
    "in vitro study limits generalizability"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "DNA fragmentation",
    "Comet assay",
    "human fibroblasts",
    "apoptosis",
    "DNA replication"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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.mrfmmm.2009.10.012
PubMed: 19896957

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