DNA damage, cell kinetics and ODC activities studied in CBA mice exposed to electromagnetic fields generated by transmission lines.

PAPER pubmed In vivo (Athens, Greece) 1999 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → PMID: 10757046 Evidence Lab

Abstract

CBA mice were exposed outdoors to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMF), with a flux density of about 8 microT rms (root mean square), generated by a 220 kV transmission line. Assays were performed in order to investigate, the possible genotoxic effects after 11, 20 and 32 days of exposure, as well as the effects on body weight, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and the level of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in spleen and testis. DNA migration was studied on brain cells by single cell electrophoresis (comet assay). After 32 days of exposure a highly significant change of the tail/head ratio of the comets was observed (p < 0.001), showing DNA-damage. Further, a decreased number of mononuclear leukocytes (0.02 < p < 0.05) was observed in mice EMF-exposed for 20 days. In summary, our data indicate that transmission lines of this type may induce genotoxic effects in mice, seen as changes in the DNA migration. These results might have an important implication for health effects.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

CBA mice

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF transmission line · 11, 20 and 32 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

CBA mice exposed outdoors to 50 Hz EMF (~8 microT rms) from a 220 kV transmission line showed a highly significant change in comet assay tail/head ratio after 32 days (p<0.001), interpreted as DNA damage in brain cells. A decreased number of mononuclear leukocytes was observed after 20 days of exposure (0.02<p<0.05).

Outcomes measured

DNA damage (comet assay tail/head ratio in brain cells)
Body weight
Leukocyte counts (including mononuclear leukocytes)
Erythrocyte counts
Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in spleen and testis

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure details beyond frequency and flux density (e.g., electric field strength) not reported in abstract
Only certain timepoints and endpoints are described; results for body weight, erythrocytes, and ODC activity are not reported in the abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.35)
Exposure source is a high-voltage transmission line; relevant to power-line/utility environments.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "transmission line",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "11, 20 and 32 days"
    },
    "population": "CBA mice",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "DNA damage (comet assay tail/head ratio in brain cells)",
        "Body weight",
        "Leukocyte counts (including mononuclear leukocytes)",
        "Erythrocyte counts",
        "Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in spleen and testis"
    ],
    "main_findings": "CBA mice exposed outdoors to 50 Hz EMF (~8 microT rms) from a 220 kV transmission line showed a highly significant change in comet assay tail/head ratio after 32 days (p<0.001), interpreted as DNA damage in brain cells. A decreased number of mononuclear leukocytes was observed after 20 days of exposure (0.02<p<0.05).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure details beyond frequency and flux density (e.g., electric field strength) not reported in abstract",
        "Only certain timepoints and endpoints are described; results for body weight, erythrocytes, and ODC activity are not reported in the abstract",
        "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "transmission line",
        "220 kV",
        "8 microT",
        "CBA mice",
        "genotoxicity",
        "DNA damage",
        "comet assay",
        "leukocytes",
        "ornithine decarboxylase",
        "ODC"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Exposure source is a high-voltage transmission line; relevant to power-line/utility environments."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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