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DNA & Genetic Damage

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields cause oxidative DNA damage in rats

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Yokus B, Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Cakir DU, Kizil M · 2008

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Levels of FapyAde, FapyGua, and 8OHdG in rat DNA were increased by ELF-MF exposure, with statistical significance observed only in the group exposed to 100 μT.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Levels of FapyAde, FapyGua, and 8OHdG were increased at both intensities compared to cage-control and sham groups, but statistical significance was observed only in the group exposed to 100 μT. The researchers noted that the intensity of ELF-MF has an important influence on the extent of DNA damage.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to detect genotoxic effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields by measuring oxidative DNA base modifications in rat leucocytes. The researchers described this as the first study to report that ELF-MF exposure generates oxidatively induced DNA base modifications such as FapyGua, FapyAde, and 8-OH-Gua in vivo. The authors stated that these findings support the hypothesis that chronic exposure to 50-Hz MF may be potentially genotoxic. The authors suggested this may explain previous studies showing DNA damage and genomic instability.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.1 and 0.5 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
2 hours/day during 10 months

Exposure Context

This study used 0.1 and 0.5 mT for magnetic fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.1 and 0.5 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 2 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To detect the genotoxic effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) -magnetic fields (MF) on oxidative DNA base modifications [8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-Gua), 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine (FapyGua) and 4,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine (FapyAde)] in rat leucocytes, measured following exposure to ELF-MF.

After exposure to ELF-MF (50 Hz, 100 and 500 μT, for 2 hours/day during 10 months), DNA was extracte...

Levels of FapyAde, FapyGua and 8OHdG in DNA were increased by both 100 μT and 500 μT ELF-MF as compa...

This is the first study to report that ELF-MF exposure generates oxidatively induced DNA base modifications which are mutagenic in mammalian cells, such as FapyGua, FapyAde and 8-OH-Gua, in vivo. This may explain previous studies showing DNA damage and genomic instability. These findings support the hypothesis that chronic exposure to 50-Hz MF may be potentially genotoxic. However, the intensity of ELF-MF has an important influence on the extent of DNA damage.

Cite This Study
Yokus B, Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Cakir DU, Kizil M (2008). Extremely low frequency magnetic fields cause oxidative DNA damage in rats Int J Radiat Biol. 84(10):789-795, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2008_extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_486,
  author = {Yokus B and Akdag MZ and Dasdag S and Cakir DU and Kizil M},
  title = {Extremely low frequency magnetic fields cause oxidative DNA damage in rats},
  year = {2008},
  doi = {10.1080/09553000802348203},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000802348203},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553000802348203

Cited By (55 papers)

View all 55 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers measured oxidative DNA base modifications including 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-Gua), FapyGua, and FapyAde in rat leucocytes.
Statistical significance was observed only in the group exposed to 100 μT, even though increases were seen at both 100 μT and 500 μT.
DNA lesions were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after DNA was extracted from exposed rats.
The researchers stated that the findings support the hypothesis that chronic exposure to 50-Hz MF may be potentially genotoxic.
Rats were exposed for 2 hours per day during 10 months.