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Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on delayed chromosomal instability induced by bleomycin in normal human fibroblast cells.

Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A · 2007 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5056

A 60-Hz ELF-EMF (0.8 mT) alone did not differ from sham exposure in micronuclei or aneuploidy. Coexposure to bleomycin and ELF-EMF significantly increased micronuclei and aneuploidy compared with bleomycin alone, but the authors report no interaction of ELF-E…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A · 2007
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the interaction of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on delayed chromosomal instability by bleomycin (BLM) in human fibroblast cells. A micronucleus-centromere assay using DNA probes for chromosomes 1 and 4 was performed and a 60-Hz ELF-EMF of 0.8 mT field strength was applied either alone or with BLM throughout the culture period. The frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and aneuploidy were analyzed at 28, 88, and 240 h after treatment with BLM. The coexposure of cells to BLM and ELF-EMF led to a significant increase in the frequencies of MN and aneuploidy compared to the cells treated with BLM alone. No difference was observed between field-exposed and sham-exposed control cells. The frequency of MN induced by BLM was increased at 28 h, and further analysis showed a persistent increase up to 240 h, but the new levels were not significantly different from the level at 28 h. BLM increased the frequencies of aneuploidy at 28, 88, and 240 h, and significantly higher frequency of aneuploidy was observed in the cells analyzed at 240 h compared to the cells examined at 28 h. No interaction of ELF-EMF on delayed chromosomal instability by BLM was observed. Our results suggest that ELF-EMF enhances the cytotoxicity of BLM. BLM might induce delayed chromosomal instability, but no effect of ELF-EMF was observed on the BLM-induced delayed chromosomal instability in fibroblast cells.

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 typein_vitro
Effect directionmixed
PopulationNormal human fibroblast cells
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.06 MHz · throughout the culture period
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

A 60-Hz ELF-EMF (0.8 mT) alone did not differ from sham exposure in micronuclei or aneuploidy. Coexposure to bleomycin and ELF-EMF significantly increased micronuclei and aneuploidy compared with bleomycin alone, but the authors report no interaction of ELF-EMF on bleomycin-induced delayed chromosomal instability.

Outcomes measured

  • Micronuclei frequency (micronucleus-centromere assay; chromosomes 1 and 4)
  • Aneuploidy
  • Delayed chromosomal instability (as assessed over time after bleomycin treatment)
  • Cytotoxicity of bleomycin (inferred from authors' statement)

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in the abstract
  • In vitro cell culture study; generalizability to humans is limited
  • Exposure limited to a single frequency (60 Hz) and field strength (0.8 mT)
  • Outcomes and timepoints limited to 28, 88, and 240 h post-bleomycin treatment
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.06,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "throughout the culture period"
  },
  "population": "Normal human fibroblast cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Micronuclei frequency (micronucleus-centromere assay; chromosomes 1 and 4)",
    "Aneuploidy",
    "Delayed chromosomal instability (as assessed over time after bleomycin treatment)",
    "Cytotoxicity of bleomycin (inferred from authors' statement)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "A 60-Hz ELF-EMF (0.8 mT) alone did not differ from sham exposure in micronuclei or aneuploidy. Coexposure to bleomycin and ELF-EMF significantly increased micronuclei and aneuploidy compared with bleomycin alone, but the authors report no interaction of ELF-EMF on bleomycin-induced delayed chromosomal instability.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro cell culture study; generalizability to humans is limited",
    "Exposure limited to a single frequency (60 Hz) and field strength (0.8 mT)",
    "Outcomes and timepoints limited to 28, 88, and 240 h post-bleomycin treatment"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "60 Hz",
    "0.8 mT",
    "bleomycin",
    "human fibroblast cells",
    "micronucleus-centromere assay",
    "micronuclei",
    "aneuploidy",
    "delayed chromosomal instability"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study uses 60-Hz ELF magnetic field exposure (0.8 mT), relevant to power-frequency exposure contexts."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1080/15287390701429281
PubMed: 17654242

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