ID Number		1077
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		50 Hz (ELF) exposure to human primary fibroblast cells and analysis of DNA breaks.
Details		Human fibroblasts from a 6-yr old, 14-yr old, 28-yr old, 43-yr old, 56-yr old and an 81-yr old were exposed to 50-Hz ELF at 10 G (five minutes on / 10 minutes off) for one to 24 hours in a two x four-coil setups in a mu-metal box. Significant dose- and time-dependent DNA strand breaks were reported via comet assay, with the maximum observed in the 15- to 19-hour exposure range in cells from older donors. Additional follow-up studies were performed in lymphocyte and monocyte cells in culture using a 50 Hz exposure at 1 mT (5 min on, 10 min off) for 0-24 hours. The authors report significant effects of exposure on single and double strand breaks in human fibroblasts, melanocytes, and rat granulosa cells but no effects in human lymphocytes (stimulated or unstimulated), human monocytes, and skeletal muscle cells. The authors speculate that reactive oxygen species may be involved, and differences in cell sensitivity may reflect cell-specific anitoxidant capacity. the authors also indicate that effects occured at magnetic flux densities below ICNIRP guidelines, and were not the result of temperature artifacts.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Vienna, Austria
Funding Agency		EU, VERUM, Germany, REFLEX, EU 5th Framework, Europe
Country		AUSTRIA
References		Ivancsits, S et al. Mech. Aging Develop., (2003) 124:847-850 Ivancsits, S et al. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, (2003) 76:431-436 Ivancsits, S et al. Mutation Res, (2003) 519:1-13 Ivancsits, S et al. Mutation research., (2002) 519:1-13 Ivancsits, S et al. Mutation research., (2005) 583:184-188
Comments		In the first study, the investigators only used 6 samples, although each was analyzed twice. Comments from Vijaylaxmi at BEMS 2003: the results may be attributable to mishandling as the percent rates of DNA strand breaks are considered to be within the normal range.