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DNA & Genetic Damage

No effect of 60 Hz electromagnetic fields on MYC or beta-actin expression in human leukemic cells

No Effects Found

Authors not listed · 1995

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60 Hz magnetic fields at household-relevant levels showed no effect on cancer-related genes in human leukemia cells.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human leukemia cells to 60 Hz magnetic fields at various strengths for 20 minutes to test whether power line frequency EMF could activate cancer-related genes. Despite using improved methods and testing conditions similar to previous positive studies, they found no effect on MYC or beta-actin gene expression. This contradicts earlier claims that EMF exposure rapidly activates genes involved in cell growth.

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 (1995). No effect of 60 Hz electromagnetic fields on MYC or beta-actin expression in human leukemic cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{no_effect_of_60_hz_electromagnetic_fields_on_myc_or_beta_actin_expression_in_human_leukemic_cells_ce2269,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {No effect of 60 Hz electromagnetic fields on MYC or beta-actin expression in human leukemic cells},
  year = {1995},
  doi = {10.2307/3579230},
  
}
DOI: 10.2307/3579230PubMed: 7568776

Quick Questions About This Study

No, this study found no activation of MYC or beta-actin genes in human leukemia cells exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields for 20 minutes, contradicting some earlier positive reports.
The researchers tested 0.57, 5.7, and 57 microTesla magnetic fields, which represent the range you might encounter from household appliances to being very close to power lines.
Despite using improved methods and similar conditions to previous positive studies, the researchers detected no gene expression changes, highlighting reproducibility challenges that plague EMF research across different laboratories.
The human leukemia cells were exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields for 20 minutes, the same duration used in earlier studies that claimed to show gene activation.
They measured MYC and beta-actin gene expression using quantitative Northern analysis, focusing on genes important for cell proliferation and previously claimed to respond to EMF exposure.