50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields enhance cell proliferation and DNA damage: possible involvement of a redox mechanism.
Wolf FI, Torsello A, Tedesco B, Fasanella S, Boninsegna A, D'Ascenzo M, Grassi C, Azzena GB, Cittadini A · 2005
View Original AbstractExposure to 50-Hz electromagnetic fields produced dose-dependent increases in cell proliferation and DNA damage, effects that were prevented by the antioxidant α-tocopherol.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed HL-60 leukemia cells, Rat-1 fibroblasts, and WI-38 diploid fibroblasts to 0.5–1.0-mT 50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields for 24–72 hours. The treatment produced a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation, with about a 30% increase after 72 hours of exposure to 1.0 mT. A dose-dependent increase in DNA damage was observed in all cell lines, with two peaks occurring at 24 and 72 hours. Both effects were prevented by pretreatment with α-tocopherol, suggesting that redox reactions were involved.
Why This Matters
The cell types used included HL-60 leukemia cells, Rat-1 fibroblasts, and WI-38 diploid fibroblasts. Increased cell proliferation was accompanied by an increased percentage of cells in the S-phase after 12- and 48-hour exposure. DNA damage was assessed in two ways: by measuring DNA strand breaks, and by measuring the formation of 8-OHdG adducts, with a similar pattern found using both methods. Rat-1 fibroblasts exposed for 3 or 24 hours showed a significant increase in reactive oxygen species, which was blunted by α-tocopherol pretreatment. Cells examined as early as 6 hours after treatment also showed modifications of NFκB-related proteins suggestive of increased formation of active forms, a process the researchers attributed to redox reactions. The results suggested that ELF-EMF influence proliferation and DNA damage in both normal and tumor cells through the action of free radical species.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.5–1.0 mT
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 24-72 h
Exposure Context
This study used 0.5–1.0 mT for magnetic fields:
- 25Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 5Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
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 Details
To study the effects of 50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields enhance cell proliferation and DNA damage: possible involvement of a redox mechanism
HL-60 leukemia cells, Rat-1 fibroblasts and WI-38 diploid fibroblasts were exposed for 24–72 h to 0....
This treatment induced a dose-dependent increase in the proliferation rate of all cell types, namely...
These results suggest that ELF-EMF influence proliferation and DNA damage in both normal and tumor cells through the action of free radical species. This information may be of value for appraising the pathophysiologic consequences of an exposure to ELF-EMF.
Show BibTeX
@article{fi_2005_50hz_extremely_low_frequency_479,
author = {Wolf FI and Torsello A and Tedesco B and Fasanella S and Boninsegna A and D'Ascenzo M and Grassi C and Azzena GB and Cittadini A},
title = {50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields enhance cell proliferation and DNA damage: possible involvement of a redox mechanism.},
year = {2005},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488904002228},
}