Chromosomal damage in human diploid fibroblasts by intermittent exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields.

Mutation research · 2005 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5175

Intermittent 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure at 1 mT produced a time-dependent increase in micronuclei, becoming significant after 10 h and reaching about three times basal levels after ~15 h. Chromosomal aberrations were reported to increase up to 10-fold above basal…

Study snapshot

PublicationMutation research · 2005

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Environmental exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) has been implicated in the development of cancer in humans. An important basis for assessing a potential cancer risk due to ELF-EMF exposure is knowledge of biological effects on human cells at the chromosomal level. Therefore, we investigated in the present study the effect of intermittent ELF electromagnetic fields (50 Hz, sinusoidal, 5'field-on/10'field-off, 2-24 h, 1 mT) on the induction of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations in cultured human fibroblasts. ELF-EMF radiation resulted in a time-dependent increase of micronuclei, which became significant after 10 h of intermittent exposure at a flux density of 1 mT. After approximately 15 h a constant level of micronuclei of about three times the basal level was reached. In addition, chromosomal aberrations were increased up to 10-fold above basal levels. Our data strongly indicate a clastogenic potential of intermittent low-frequency electromagnetic fields, which may lead to considerable chromosomal damage in dividing 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 directionharm

PopulationCultured human diploid fibroblasts

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · Intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 2–24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Micronuclei (MN) induction
Chromosomal aberrations

Limitations

In vitro cell culture study; relevance to human health outcomes not directly assessed
Sample size and statistical details not provided in the abstract
Only one field strength (1 mT) and one frequency (50 Hz) described in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 2–24 h"
  },
  "population": "Cultured human diploid fibroblasts",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Micronuclei (MN) induction",
    "Chromosomal aberrations"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Intermittent 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure at 1 mT produced a time-dependent increase in micronuclei, becoming significant after 10 h and reaching about three times basal levels after ~15 h. Chromosomal aberrations were reported to increase up to 10-fold above basal levels.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell culture study; relevance to human health outcomes not directly assessed",
    "Sample size and statistical details not provided in the abstract",
    "Only one field strength (1 mT) and one frequency (50 Hz) described in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "50 Hz",
    "intermittent exposure",
    "1 mT",
    "human diploid fibroblasts",
    "micronuclei",
    "chromosomal aberrations",
    "clastogenic"
  ],
  "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.mrgentox.2005.04.013
PubMed: 16009595

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