DNA damage, cell kinetics and ODC activities studied in CBA mice exposed to electromagnetic fields generated by transmission lines.

In vivo (Athens, Greece) · 1999 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5359

CBA mice exposed outdoors to 50 Hz EMF (~8 microT rms) from a 220 kV transmission line showed a highly significant change in comet assay tail/head ratio after 32 days (p<0.001), interpreted as DNA damage in brain cells. A decreased number of mononuclear leuko…

Study snapshot

PublicationIn vivo (Athens, Greece) · 1999

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

CBA mice were exposed outdoors to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMF), with a flux density of about 8 microT rms (root mean square), generated by a 220 kV transmission line. Assays were performed in order to investigate, the possible genotoxic effects after 11, 20 and 32 days of exposure, as well as the effects on body weight, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and the level of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in spleen and testis. DNA migration was studied on brain cells by single cell electrophoresis (comet assay). After 32 days of exposure a highly significant change of the tail/head ratio of the comets was observed (p < 0.001), showing DNA-damage. Further, a decreased number of mononuclear leukocytes (0.02 < p < 0.05) was observed in mice EMF-exposed for 20 days. In summary, our data indicate that transmission lines of this type may induce genotoxic effects in mice, seen as changes in the DNA migration. These results might have an important implication for health effects.

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 typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationCBA mice

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 11, 20 and 32 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

DNA damage (comet assay tail/head ratio in brain cells)
Body weight
Leukocyte counts (including mononuclear leukocytes)
Erythrocyte counts
Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in spleen and testis

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure details beyond frequency and flux density (e.g., electric field strength) not reported in abstract
Only certain timepoints and endpoints are described; results for body weight, erythrocytes, and ODC activity are not reported in the abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "transmission line",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "11, 20 and 32 days"
  },
  "population": "CBA mice",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage (comet assay tail/head ratio in brain cells)",
    "Body weight",
    "Leukocyte counts (including mononuclear leukocytes)",
    "Erythrocyte counts",
    "Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in spleen and testis"
  ],
  "main_findings": "CBA mice exposed outdoors to 50 Hz EMF (~8 microT rms) from a 220 kV transmission line showed a highly significant change in comet assay tail/head ratio after 32 days (p<0.001), interpreted as DNA damage in brain cells. A decreased number of mononuclear leukocytes was observed after 20 days of exposure (0.02<p<0.05).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure details beyond frequency and flux density (e.g., electric field strength) not reported in abstract",
    "Only certain timepoints and endpoints are described; results for body weight, erythrocytes, and ODC activity are not reported in the abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "transmission line",
    "220 kV",
    "8 microT",
    "CBA mice",
    "genotoxicity",
    "DNA damage",
    "comet assay",
    "leukocytes",
    "ornithine decarboxylase",
    "ODC"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Exposure source is a high-voltage transmission line; relevant to power-line/utility environments."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: 10757046

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