Mutagenicity and toxicity of electromagnetic fields

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6606612

Fiorio, R; Morichetti, E; Vellosi, R; Bronzetti, G ^[1]

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1. Istituto di Mutagenesi e Differenziamento, Pisa (Italy)

Humans are exposed daily to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) originating from a variety of devices and systems. During the 1980s many reports of potential mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects of EMFs were published, sometimes with contrasting results. To date, no study has established unequivocally a casual relationship between EMFs and cancer. Cell cultures can provide a simple and inexpensive tool for the study of the effects of EMFs. We have used the Chinese hamster V79 cell line to evaluate the influence of a sinusoidal EMF at 50-Hz with a constant flow of 2 G on the induction of HGPRT[sup [minus]] mutants and on survival. Our results show that the EMF employed did not induce any modification of mutation frequency, but the results on survival were contrasting. When only 10[sup 2] cells were plated, a reduction in the number of colonies, reaching about 50% after 10 days of treatment, was observed; however, when 2 x 10[sup 5] cells or more were seeded, no reduction in variability was recorded. An intercellular metabolic interaction may explain these results. 1 ref., 2 figs., 16 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6606612
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology; (United States) Vol. 12:3; ISSN 0731-8898; ISSN JEPOEC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARCINOGENESIS
CELL CULTURES
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
MUTAGENESIS
MUTATION FREQUENCY
PATHOGENESIS
TOXICITY