Microsatellite analysis for determination of the mutagenicity of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and ionising radiation in vitro.

Mutation research · 2007 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5088

Study snapshot

PublicationMutation research · 2007

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been reported to induce lesions in DNA and to enhance the mutagenicity of ionising radiation. However, the significance of these findings is uncertain because the determination of the carcinogenic potential of EMFs has largely been based on investigations of large chromosomal aberrations. Using a more sensitive method of detecting DNA damage involving microsatellite sequences, we observed that exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone at a field strength of 1 mT (50 Hz) for 12 h gave rise to 0.011 mutations/locus/cell. This was equivalent to a 3.75-fold increase in mutation induction compared with unexposed controls. Furthermore, ELF-EMF increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 and 3 Gy gamma-irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. These results suggest not only that ELF-EMF is mutagenic as a single agent but also that it can potentiate the mutagenicity of ionising radiation. Treatment with 0.3 Gy induced more than 10 times more mutations per unit dose than irradiation with 3 Gy, indicating hypermutability at low dose.

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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

PopulationUVW human glioma cells

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 5e-05 MHz · 12 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h) produced 0.011 mutations/locus/cell, reported as a 3.75-fold increase versus unexposed controls. ELF-EMF co-exposure increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 Gy and 3 Gy gamma irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. The abstract also reports that 0.3 Gy induced >10 times more mutations per unit dose than 3 Gy.

Outcomes measured

Microsatellite mutations (mutations/locus/cell)
Mutagenicity of gamma irradiation with and without ELF-EMF co-exposure
Dose-response/hypermutability at low-dose gamma irradiation

Limitations

In vitro study in a single human glioma cell line (UVW); generalizability to humans not established in abstract.
Sample size/replication and statistical uncertainty not reported in abstract.
Only one ELF-EMF condition reported (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h).
Outcome is microsatellite mutation rate; other genotoxicity endpoints not described in abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 5e-05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "12 h"
  },
  "population": "UVW human glioma cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Microsatellite mutations (mutations/locus/cell)",
    "Mutagenicity of gamma irradiation with and without ELF-EMF co-exposure",
    "Dose-response/hypermutability at low-dose gamma irradiation"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h) produced 0.011 mutations/locus/cell, reported as a 3.75-fold increase versus unexposed controls. ELF-EMF co-exposure increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 Gy and 3 Gy gamma irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. The abstract also reports that 0.3 Gy induced >10 times more mutations per unit dose than 3 Gy.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in a single human glioma cell line (UVW); generalizability to humans not established in abstract.",
    "Sample size/replication and statistical uncertainty not reported in abstract.",
    "Only one ELF-EMF condition reported (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h).",
    "Outcome is microsatellite mutation rate; other genotoxicity endpoints not described in abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "50 Hz",
    "1 mT",
    "microsatellite analysis",
    "mutagenicity",
    "DNA damage",
    "gamma irradiation",
    "ionising radiation",
    "UVW human glioma cells",
    "hypermutability"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Genotoxicity/mutagenicity findings relevant to health risk assessment discussions often covered in WHO/ICNIRP context."
    }
  ]
}

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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.mrgentox.2006.08.005
PubMed: 16987695

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