Impact of high (1950 MHz) and extremely low (50 Hz) frequency electromagnetic fields on DNA

Abstract

Impact of high (1950 MHz) and extremely low (50 Hz) frequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage caused by occupationally relevant exposures in human derived cell lines Worel N, Mišík M, Kundi M, Ferk F, Hutter HP, Nersesyan A, Wultsch G, Krupitza G, Knasmueller S. Impact of high (1950 MHz) and extremely low (50 Hz) frequency electromagnetic fields on DNA damage caused by occupationally relevant exposures in human derived cell lines. Toxicol In Vitro. 2024 Jul 16:105902. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105902. Highlights • Mobile phone-specific (HF) and low-frequency (LF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) may cause cancer. • We investigated the impact of these fields on DNA damage in human-derived cells. • The cells were exposed to the EMF in combination with occupationally related carcinogens. • We found no evidence for synergistic effects. • In neural cells, we observed a significant reduction of DNA damage after exposure to the HF field. Abstract Epidemiological studies indicate that electromagnetic fields are associated with cancer in humans. Exposure to mobile phone specific high frequency fields (HF-EMF) may lead to increased glioma risks, while low frequency radiation (LF-EMF) is associated with childhood leukemia. We studied the impact of HF-EMF (1950 MHz, UMTS signal) on DNA stability in an astrocytoma cell line (1321N1), and the effect of LF-EMF (50 Hz) in human derived lymphoma (Jurkat) cells. To find out if these fields affect chemically induced DNA damage, co-exposure experiments were performed. The cells were exposed to HF-EMF or LF-EMF and treated simultaneously and sequentially with mutagens. The compounds cause DNA damage via different molecular mechanisms, i.e. pyrimidine dimers which are characteristic for UV light (4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, 4NQO), bulky base adducts (benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide, BPDE), DNA-DNA and DNA-protein cross links and oxidative damage (NiCl2, CrO3). DNA damage was measured in single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assays. We found a moderate reduction of basal and 4NQO-induced DNA damage in the astrocytoma line, but no significant alterations of chemically induced DNA migration by the HF and LF fields under all other experimental series. The biological consequences of the moderate reduction remain unclear, but our findings indicate that acute mobile phone and power line specific EMF exposures do not enhance genotoxic effects caused by occupationally relevant chemical exposures. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to 1950 MHz HF-EMF and 50 Hz LF-EMF did not enhance chemically induced DNA damage in human-derived cell lines. A moderate reduction of basal and UV-induced DNA damage was observed in astrocytoma cells after HF-EMF exposure. No synergistic effects with occupational mutagens were found.

Outcomes measured

• DNA damage measured by comet assay

Limitations

• In vitro study, may not fully represent in vivo effects
• Biological consequences of moderate DNA damage reduction unclear
• Exposure duration and SAR not specified

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.9)
  Study involves occupationally relevant chemical exposures and EMF co-exposure.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "HF and LF",
        "source": "mobile phone (UMTS 1950 MHz) and power line (50 Hz)",
        "frequency_mhz": 1950,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "human-derived cell lines (astrocytoma 1321N1 and lymphoma Jurkat)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "DNA damage measured by comet assay"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to 1950 MHz HF-EMF and 50 Hz LF-EMF did not enhance chemically induced DNA damage in human-derived cell lines. A moderate reduction of basal and UV-induced DNA damage was observed in astrocytoma cells after HF-EMF exposure. No synergistic effects with occupational mutagens were found.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro study, may not fully represent in vivo effects",
        "Biological consequences of moderate DNA damage reduction unclear",
        "Exposure duration and SAR not specified"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "high frequency EMF",
        "low frequency EMF",
        "DNA damage",
        "astrocytoma cells",
        "lymphoma cells",
        "occupational exposure",
        "genotoxicity",
        "mobile phone radiation",
        "power line frequency"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study involves occupationally relevant chemical exposures and EMF co-exposure."
        }
    ]
}

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