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Cancer & Tumors

Effects of 60-Hz fields, estradiol and xenoestrogens on human breast cancer cells

No Effects Found

Authors not listed · 1996

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Power line frequency EMF showed no ability to stimulate breast cancer cell growth or DNA damage, even at extremely high intensities.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tested whether 60 Hz electromagnetic fields (like those from power lines) could stimulate breast cancer cell growth or cause DNA damage in laboratory conditions. The study found that while estrogen and chemical estrogens promoted cancer cell division, electromagnetic field exposure at multiple intensities showed no effect on cell growth, gene activity, or DNA damage.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale
Cite This Study
Unknown (1996). Effects of 60-Hz fields, estradiol and xenoestrogens on human breast cancer cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{effects_of_60_hz_fields_estradiol_and_xenoestrogens_on_human_breast_cancer_cells_ce2265,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Effects of 60-Hz fields, estradiol and xenoestrogens on human breast cancer cells},
  year = {1996},
  doi = {10.2307/3579306},
  
}
DOI: 10.2307/3579306PubMed: 8927716

Quick Questions About This Study

This study found that 60 Hz electromagnetic fields at intensities up to 90,000 times typical household levels could not stimulate breast cancer cell division or act like estrogen to promote tumor growth in laboratory conditions.
Researchers tested 12 milligauss, 1 gauss, and 9 gauss field strengths. For comparison, typical home exposures range from 0.1 to 4 milligauss, making the tested levels thousands of times stronger than normal exposure.
The study found no evidence that 60 Hz electromagnetic field exposure caused DNA damage or activated cellular DNA repair responses in human breast cancer cells, unlike known DNA-damaging chemical agents that were tested.
No co-promotional effect was found. When breast cancer cells were exposed to both EMF and known chemical promoters simultaneously, the electromagnetic fields did not enhance the cancer-promoting effects of the chemicals.
While estrogen and chemical estrogens clearly stimulated breast cancer cell growth and division in this study, electromagnetic field exposure showed no estrogenic activity or ability to bind to estrogen receptors.