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Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields do not affect DNA damage and gene expression profiles of yeast and human lymphocytes.

Radiation research · 2005 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5165

After 18 h exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1, 10, or 100 microT, the study did not observe increased DNA strand breaks or oxidated DNA bases in human lymphocytes relative to controls, nor variation in gene expression profiles in human or yeast cells.

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation research · 2005
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

We studied the effects of extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on peripheral human blood lymphocytes and DBY747 Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Graded exposure to 50 Hz magnetic flux density was obtained with a Helmholtz coil system set at 1, 10 or 100 microT for 18 h. The effects of EMFs on DNA damage were studied with the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) in lymphocytes. Gene expression profiles of EMF-exposed human and yeast cells were evaluated with DNA microarrays containing 13,971 and 6,212 oligonucleotides, respectively. After exposure to the EMF, we did not observe an increase in the amount of strand breaks or oxidated DNA bases relative to controls or a variation in gene expression profiles. The results suggest that extremely low-frequency EMFs do not induce DNA damage or affect gene expression in these two different eukaryotic cell systems.

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 directionno_effect
PopulationPeripheral human blood lymphocytes and DBY747 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 18 h
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 18 h exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1, 10, or 100 microT, the study did not observe increased DNA strand breaks or oxidated DNA bases in human lymphocytes relative to controls, nor variation in gene expression profiles in human or yeast cells.

Outcomes measured

  • DNA damage (strand breaks; oxidated DNA bases) assessed by comet assay in lymphocytes
  • Gene expression profiles assessed by DNA microarrays in human lymphocytes and yeast

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • In vitro/cell-based systems; may not generalize to in vivo human health outcomes
  • Only one frequency (50 Hz) and limited exposure conditions (1–100 microT; 18 h) described
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "18 h"
  },
  "population": "Peripheral human blood lymphocytes and DBY747 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage (strand breaks; oxidated DNA bases) assessed by comet assay in lymphocytes",
    "Gene expression profiles assessed by DNA microarrays in human lymphocytes and yeast"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 18 h exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1, 10, or 100 microT, the study did not observe increased DNA strand breaks or oxidated DNA bases in human lymphocytes relative to controls, nor variation in gene expression profiles in human or yeast cells.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "In vitro/cell-based systems; may not generalize to in vivo human health outcomes",
    "Only one frequency (50 Hz) and limited exposure conditions (1–100 microT; 18 h) described"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF",
    "50 Hz",
    "magnetic flux density",
    "Helmholtz coil",
    "microtesla",
    "human lymphocytes",
    "Saccharomyces cerevisiae",
    "yeast",
    "comet assay",
    "DNA damage",
    "oxidative DNA bases",
    "gene expression",
    "DNA microarray"
  ],
  "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: 10.1667/rr3426.1
PubMed: 16137200

Read the original paper →

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