Elevated sister chromatid exchange frequencies in dividing human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2007 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5081

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2007

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The in vitro cytomolecular technique, sister chromatid exchange (SCE), was applied to test the clastogenic potentiality of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs). SCE frequencies were scored in dividing peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from six healthy male blood donors in two rounds of experiments, R1 and R2, to determine reproducibility. Lymphocyte cultures in the eight experiments conducted in each round were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal (continuous or pulsed) or square (continuous or pulsed) MFs at field strengths of 1 microT or 1 mT for 72 h. A significant increase in the number of SCEs/cell in the grouped experimental conditions compared to the controls was observed in both rounds. The highest SCE frequency in R1 was 10.03 for a square continuous field, and 10.39 for a square continuous field was the second highest frequency in R2. DNA crosslinking at the replication fork is proposed as a model which could explain the mechanistic link between ELF EMF exposure and increased SCE frequency.

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 directionharm

PopulationHuman peripheral blood lymphocytes from six healthy male blood donors (in vitro cultures)

Sample size6

ExposureELF · 5e-05 MHz · 72 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across two experimental rounds, lymphocyte cultures exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields (sinusoidal or square; continuous or pulsed) at 1 microT or 1 mT for 72 h showed a significant increase in SCEs/cell in grouped experimental conditions compared with controls. The highest reported SCE frequency was 10.03 (square continuous) in R1, and 10.39 (square continuous) was the second highest in R2.

Outcomes measured

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency (SCEs/cell)

Limitations

In vitro study (cell culture), not an in vivo or epidemiologic assessment
Small donor sample (six healthy male donors)
Results described as significant for grouped experimental conditions; effects by specific waveform/intensity conditions are not fully detailed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "magnetic field exposure (laboratory)",
    "frequency_mhz": 5e-05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "72 h"
  },
  "population": "Human peripheral blood lymphocytes from six healthy male blood donors (in vitro cultures)",
  "sample_size": 6,
  "outcomes": [
    "Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency (SCEs/cell)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across two experimental rounds, lymphocyte cultures exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields (sinusoidal or square; continuous or pulsed) at 1 microT or 1 mT for 72 h showed a significant increase in SCEs/cell in grouped experimental conditions compared with controls. The highest reported SCE frequency was 10.03 (square continuous) in R1, and 10.39 (square continuous) was the second highest in R2.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study (cell culture), not an in vivo or epidemiologic assessment",
    "Small donor sample (six healthy male donors)",
    "Results described as significant for grouped experimental conditions; effects by specific waveform/intensity conditions are not fully detailed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF",
    "50 Hz",
    "magnetic field",
    "human peripheral blood lymphocytes",
    "sister chromatid exchange",
    "genotoxicity",
    "clastogenicity",
    "sinusoidal",
    "square wave",
    "continuous",
    "pulsed",
    "1 microT",
    "1 mT"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Study concerns ELF (50 Hz) magnetic fields, which are relevant to occupational ELF exposure contexts, though this is an in vitro experiment."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/bem.20289
PubMed: 17080456

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