Microsatellite analysis for determination of the mutagenicity of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and ionising radiation in vitro.

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been reported to induce lesions in DNA and to enhance the mutagenicity of ionising radiation. However, the significance of these findings is uncertain because the determination of the carcinogenic potential of EMFs has largely been based on investigations of large chromosomal aberrations. Using a more sensitive method of detecting DNA damage involving microsatellite sequences, we observed that exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone at a field strength of 1 mT (50 Hz) for 12 h gave rise to 0.011 mutations/locus/cell. This was equivalent to a 3.75-fold increase in mutation induction compared with unexposed controls. Furthermore, ELF-EMF increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 and 3 Gy gamma-irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. These results suggest not only that ELF-EMF is mutagenic as a single agent but also that it can potentiate the mutagenicity of ionising radiation. Treatment with 0.3 Gy induced more than 10 times more mutations per unit dose than irradiation with 3 Gy, indicating hypermutability at low dose.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h) produced 0.011 mutations/locus/cell, reported as a 3.75-fold increase versus unexposed controls. ELF-EMF co-exposure increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 Gy and 3 Gy gamma irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. The abstract also reports that 0.3 Gy induced >10 times more mutations per unit dose than 3 Gy.

Outcomes measured

• Microsatellite mutations (mutations/locus/cell)
• Mutagenicity of gamma irradiation with and without ELF-EMF co-exposure
• Dose-response/hypermutability at low-dose gamma irradiation

Limitations

• In vitro study in a single human glioma cell line (UVW); generalizability to humans not established in abstract.
• Sample size/replication and statistical uncertainty not reported in abstract.
• Only one ELF-EMF condition reported (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h).
• Outcome is microsatellite mutation rate; other genotoxicity endpoints not described in abstract.

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.35)
  Genotoxicity/mutagenicity findings relevant to health risk assessment discussions often covered in WHO/ICNIRP context.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 5.00000000000000023960868011929647991564706899225711822509765625e-5,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "12 h"
    },
    "population": "UVW human glioma cells",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Microsatellite mutations (mutations/locus/cell)",
        "Mutagenicity of gamma irradiation with and without ELF-EMF co-exposure",
        "Dose-response/hypermutability at low-dose gamma irradiation"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h) produced 0.011 mutations/locus/cell, reported as a 3.75-fold increase versus unexposed controls. ELF-EMF co-exposure increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 Gy and 3 Gy gamma irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. The abstract also reports that 0.3 Gy induced >10 times more mutations per unit dose than 3 Gy.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro study in a single human glioma cell line (UVW); generalizability to humans not established in abstract.",
        "Sample size/replication and statistical uncertainty not reported in abstract.",
        "Only one ELF-EMF condition reported (1 mT, 50 Hz, 12 h).",
        "Outcome is microsatellite mutation rate; other genotoxicity endpoints not described in abstract."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
        "50 Hz",
        "1 mT",
        "microsatellite analysis",
        "mutagenicity",
        "DNA damage",
        "gamma irradiation",
        "ionising radiation",
        "UVW human glioma cells",
        "hypermutability"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Genotoxicity/mutagenicity findings relevant to health risk assessment discussions often covered in WHO/ICNIRP context."
        }
    ]
}

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