Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on animal cancer and DNA damage: a systematic
Abstract
Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on animal cancer and DNA damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis Brabant C, Honvo G, Demonceau C, Tirelli E, Léonard F, Bruyère O. Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on animal cancer and DNA damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2024 Dec 31:S0079-6107(24)00116-0. doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.12.005. Abstract The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the carcinogenic effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) by analyzing animal and comet assay studies. We have performed a global meta-analysis on all the animal studies on the relation between ELF-MF and cancer incidence and separate meta-analyses on the incidence of cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, brain cancer and DNA damage assessed with the comet assay. Of the 5145 references identified, 71 studies have been included in our systematic review and 22 studies in our meta-analyses. Our global meta-analysis indicated that ELF-MF exposure had no significant impact on the incidence of cancers in rodents (19 studies, OR = 1.10; 95% CI 0.91-1.32). However, our separate meta-analyses showed that ELF-MF increased the odds of developing leukemia in mice (4 studies, OR = 4.45; 95% CI 1.90-10.38) but not in rats. Our systematic review also suggests that ELF-MF can damage DNA in certain cell types like brain cells. Nevertheless, a meta-analysis on three comet assay studies indicated that ELF-MF did not increase DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells (SMD = -0.08; 95% CI -0.18-0.01). Overall, our results suggest that exposure to ELF-MF does not represent a major hazard for mammals and the carcinogenic effects of these magnetic fields could be limited to leukemia. Highlights ELF-MF do not affect the odds of lymphoma, brain cancer and breast cancer in rodents ELF-MF could increase the odds of developing leukemia in mice but not in rats ELF-MF have no influence on survival and body weight in rodents ELF-MF do not increase DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells ELF-MF could damage DNA of certain cell types like brain cells in rodents pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
A global meta-analysis of rodent studies reported no significant association between ELF-MF exposure and overall cancer incidence (19 studies; OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.91–1.32). Separate meta-analyses reported increased odds of leukemia in mice (4 studies; OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.90–10.38) but not in rats, and no effects on lymphoma, brain cancer, or breast cancer. The systematic review suggests ELF-MF may damage DNA in certain cell types (e.g., brain cells), while a meta-analysis of three comet assay studies found no increase in DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells (SMD -0.08, 95% CI -0.18–0.01).
Outcomes measured
- Cancer incidence (overall)
- Leukemia incidence
- Lymphoma incidence
- Breast cancer incidence
- Brain cancer incidence
- DNA damage (comet assay)
- Survival
- Body weight
Suggested hubs
-
power-lines
(0.55) The paper evaluates health outcomes from extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), commonly associated with power-frequency sources.
View raw extracted JSON
{
"publication_year": 2024,
"study_type": "meta_analysis",
"exposure": {
"band": "ELF",
"source": null,
"frequency_mhz": null,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": null
},
"population": "Rodents (mice and rats); comet assay cell types including neuroblastoma cells",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"Cancer incidence (overall)",
"Leukemia incidence",
"Lymphoma incidence",
"Breast cancer incidence",
"Brain cancer incidence",
"DNA damage (comet assay)",
"Survival",
"Body weight"
],
"main_findings": "A global meta-analysis of rodent studies reported no significant association between ELF-MF exposure and overall cancer incidence (19 studies; OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.91–1.32). Separate meta-analyses reported increased odds of leukemia in mice (4 studies; OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.90–10.38) but not in rats, and no effects on lymphoma, brain cancer, or breast cancer. The systematic review suggests ELF-MF may damage DNA in certain cell types (e.g., brain cells), while a meta-analysis of three comet assay studies found no increase in DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells (SMD -0.08, 95% CI -0.18–0.01).",
"effect_direction": "mixed",
"limitations": [],
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"summary": "This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed carcinogenic effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) using animal cancer studies and comet assay studies. The global meta-analysis found no significant effect of ELF-MF on overall cancer incidence in rodents, but a separate analysis reported increased odds of leukemia in mice (not rats). Evidence on DNA damage was mixed, with narrative indications of damage in some cell types but no increase in neuroblastoma cells in a small meta-analysis.",
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"The review included 71 studies, with 22 studies contributing to meta-analyses.",
"A global meta-analysis of 19 rodent studies reported no significant association between ELF-MF exposure and overall cancer incidence.",
"Separate meta-analyses reported increased odds of leukemia in mice but not in rats.",
"Meta-analytic results reported no effect of ELF-MF on lymphoma, brain cancer, or breast cancer in rodents.",
"The highlights report no influence of ELF-MF on rodent survival and body weight.",
"The systematic review suggests ELF-MF may damage DNA in certain cell types such as brain cells.",
"A meta-analysis of three comet assay studies found no increase in DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells."
],
"categories": [
"ELF Magnetic Fields",
"Cancer",
"Genotoxicity",
"Animal Studies",
"Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses"
],
"tags": [
"Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields",
"ELF-MF",
"Systematic Review",
"Meta-Analysis",
"Rodents",
"Mice",
"Rats",
"Cancer Incidence",
"Leukemia",
"Lymphoma",
"Breast Cancer",
"Brain Cancer",
"DNA Damage",
"Comet Assay",
"Neuroblastoma Cells"
],
"keywords": [
"extremely low frequency",
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"ELF-MF",
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"rodent",
"cancer",
"leukemia",
"lymphoma",
"breast cancer",
"brain cancer",
"DNA damage"
],
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"reason": "The paper evaluates health outcomes from extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), commonly associated with power-frequency sources."
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"social": {
"tweet": "Systematic review/meta-analysis (2024) on ELF magnetic fields: overall rodent cancer incidence showed no significant change, but a separate analysis reported higher leukemia odds in mice (not rats). DNA damage findings were mixed; no increase was seen in neuroblastoma cells in a small comet-assay meta-analysis.",
"facebook": "A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examined extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) in animal cancer studies and comet assays. Overall cancer incidence in rodents was not significantly affected, though a separate analysis reported increased leukemia odds in mice (not rats). DNA damage evidence was mixed, with no increase in neuroblastoma cells in a small meta-analysis.",
"linkedin": "New 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis on ELF magnetic fields (animal cancer + comet assay studies): no significant association with overall rodent cancer incidence, but a separate meta-analysis reported increased leukemia odds in mice (not rats). Genotoxicity results were mixed, including no increase in DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells in a small meta-analysis."
}
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.
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