DNA and chromosomal damage in response to intermittent extremely low-frequency magnetic fields
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DNA and chromosomal damage in response to intermittent extremely low-frequency magnetic fields. / Burdak-Rothkamm, Susanne; Rothkamm, Kai; Folkard, Melvyn; Patel, Gaurang; Hone, Pat; Lloyd, David; Ainsbury, Liz; Prise, Kevin M.
In: MUTAT RES-FUND MOL M, Vol. 672, No. 2, 31.01.2009, p. 82-9.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - DNA and chromosomal damage in response to intermittent extremely low-frequency magnetic fields
AU - Burdak-Rothkamm, Susanne
AU - Rothkamm, Kai
AU - Folkard, Melvyn
AU - Patel, Gaurang
AU - Hone, Pat
AU - Lloyd, David
AU - Ainsbury, Liz
AU - Prise, Kevin M
PY - 2009/1/31
Y1 - 2009/1/31
N2 - Considerable controversy still exists as to whether electric and magnetic fields (MF) at extremely low frequencies are genotoxic to humans. The aim of this study was to test the ability of alternating magnetic fields to induce DNA and chromosomal damage in primary human fibroblasts. Single- and double-strand breaks were quantified using the alkaline comet assay and the gammaH2AX-foci assay, respectively. Chromosomal damage was assayed for unstable aberrations, sister chromatid exchange and micronuclei. Cells were exposed to switching fields - 5min on, 10min off - for 15h over the range 50-1000microT. Exposure to ionizing radiation was used as a positive-effect calibration. In this study two separate MF exposure systems were used. One was based on a custom-built solenoid coil system and the other on a commercial system almost identical to that used in previous studies by the EU REFLEX programme. With neither system could DNA damage or chromosomal damage be detected as a result of exposure of fibroblasts to switching MF. The sensitive gammaH2AX assay could also not detect significant DNA damage in the MF-exposed fibroblasts, although the minimum threshold for this assay was equivalent to an X-ray dose of 0.025Gy. Therefore, with comparable MF parameters employed, this study could not confirm previous studies reporting significant effects for both the alkaline and neutral comet assays and chromosomal aberration induction.
AB - Considerable controversy still exists as to whether electric and magnetic fields (MF) at extremely low frequencies are genotoxic to humans. The aim of this study was to test the ability of alternating magnetic fields to induce DNA and chromosomal damage in primary human fibroblasts. Single- and double-strand breaks were quantified using the alkaline comet assay and the gammaH2AX-foci assay, respectively. Chromosomal damage was assayed for unstable aberrations, sister chromatid exchange and micronuclei. Cells were exposed to switching fields - 5min on, 10min off - for 15h over the range 50-1000microT. Exposure to ionizing radiation was used as a positive-effect calibration. In this study two separate MF exposure systems were used. One was based on a custom-built solenoid coil system and the other on a commercial system almost identical to that used in previous studies by the EU REFLEX programme. With neither system could DNA damage or chromosomal damage be detected as a result of exposure of fibroblasts to switching MF. The sensitive gammaH2AX assay could also not detect significant DNA damage in the MF-exposed fibroblasts, although the minimum threshold for this assay was equivalent to an X-ray dose of 0.025Gy. Therefore, with comparable MF parameters employed, this study could not confirm previous studies reporting significant effects for both the alkaline and neutral comet assays and chromosomal aberration induction.
KW - Cell Line
KW - Chromosome Aberrations/radiation effects
KW - Comet Assay
KW - DNA Damage/radiation effects
KW - Electromagnetic Fields/adverse effects
KW - Humans
U2 - 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2008.10.016
DO - 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2008.10.016
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 19049903
VL - 672
SP - 82
EP - 89
IS - 2
ER -
