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DNA & Genetic Damage

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

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Authors not listed · 2005

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Intermittent ELF-EMF at 1 mT caused a time-dependent increase in micronuclei that became significant after 10 hours and increased chromosomal aberrations up to 10-fold.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed cultured human fibroblasts to intermittent 50 Hz ELF-EMF (5 minutes on, 10 minutes off) at 1 mT for 2 to 24 hours. Micronuclei frequency increased in a time-dependent manner, becoming statistically significant after 10 hours and plateauing at roughly three times the basal level after about 15 hours. Chromosomal aberrations were also elevated, reaching up to 10-fold above baseline.

Exposure Information

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

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2005). Chromosomal damage in human diploid fibroblasts by intermittent exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields.
Show BibTeX
@article{chromosomal_damage_in_human_diploid_fibroblasts_by_intermittent_exposure_to_extremely_low_frequency_electromagnetic_fields_ce1466,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Chromosomal damage in human diploid fibroblasts by intermittent exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields},
  year = {2005},
  doi = {10.1016/J.MRGENTOX.2005.04.013},
  
}
DOI: 10.1016/J.MRGENTOX.2005.04.013PubMed: 16009595

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used intermittent 50 Hz sinusoidal ELF-EMF at 1 mT with a 5 minutes on, 10 minutes off cycle for 2 to 24 hours.
Micronuclei increased in a time-dependent manner, becoming significant after 10 hours and reaching about three times the basal level after approximately 15 hours.
Chromosomal aberrations were increased up to 10-fold above basal levels.
The authors concluded that the data strongly indicate a clastogenic potential of intermittent low-frequency electromagnetic fields, which may lead to considerable chromosomal damage in dividing cells.
They noted that environmental ELF-EMF exposure has been implicated in human cancer development and that understanding chromosomal effects is important for risk assessment.