Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Gene expression in human breast epithelial cells exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields med./bio.

Published in: Carcinogenesis 1999; 20 (8): 1633-1636

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To evaluate the effects of exposure to 60 Hz electromagnetic fields on oncogene expression in human breast epithelial cells (transformed and non-transformed).

Background/further details

To identify possible co-promoting effects of electromagnetic field on c-myc expression human breast cell models were only tumor promoter TPA treated or co-exposed (electromagnetic field plus TPA).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 20 min, 1 h, 4 h, or 24 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Waveform
Polarization
Exposure duration 20 min, 1 h, 4 h, or 24 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • insulated acrylic chamber sourrounded by a pair of nested Merritt coils
Chamber incubator with insulated acrylic chamber sourrounded by a pair of nested Merritt coils insulated acrylic cell stock chamber
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT maximum cf. remarks - 0.01; 0.1; 1 mT

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The exposure to electromagnetic field and the co-exposure (electromagnetic field plus TPA) had no statistically significant effect on the expression of the investigated genes in either human breast cell model.
These data indicate that electromagnetic field is unlikely to influence breast cancer induction through a mechanism involving an altered expression of these genes.

Study character:

Study funded by

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