Mutagenicity and toxicity of electromagnetic fields.

PAPER pubmed Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer 1993 In vitro study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → PMID: 8189366 Evidence Lab

Abstract

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 causal 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- mutants and on survival. Our results showed that the EMF employed did not induce any modification of mutation frequency, but the results on survival were contrasting. When only 10(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(5) cells or more were seeded, no reduction in viability was recorded. An intercellular metabolic interaction may explain these results.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Chinese hamster V79 cell line (cell culture)

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF · 0.05 MHz · 10 days (treatment mentioned for colony reduction condition)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to a 50-Hz sinusoidal EMF at 2 G, no modification of mutation frequency (HGPRT- mutants) was observed. Survival/viability results were contrasting: plating 10^2 cells showed reduced colonies (about 50% after 10 days), while seeding 2×10^5 cells or more showed no reduction in viability.

Outcomes measured

HGPRT- mutant induction / mutation frequency
Cell survival / viability (colony formation)

Limitations

In vitro cell culture model; may not generalize to humans
Contrasting survival results depended on plating density, complicating interpretation
Exposure source/device not specified beyond field characteristics
Sample size and replication details not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "10 days (treatment mentioned for colony reduction condition)"
    },
    "population": "Chinese hamster V79 cell line (cell culture)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "HGPRT- mutant induction / mutation frequency",
        "Cell survival / viability (colony formation)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to a 50-Hz sinusoidal EMF at 2 G, no modification of mutation frequency (HGPRT- mutants) was observed. Survival/viability results were contrasting: plating 10^2 cells showed reduced colonies (about 50% after 10 days), while seeding 2×10^5 cells or more showed no reduction in viability.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro cell culture model; may not generalize to humans",
        "Contrasting survival results depended on plating density, complicating interpretation",
        "Exposure source/device not specified beyond field characteristics",
        "Sample size and replication details not provided in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF",
        "50 Hz",
        "2 G",
        "Chinese hamster V79",
        "HGPRT mutation",
        "mutagenicity",
        "cell survival",
        "colony formation"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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.

Comments

No comments yet.