Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Extended exposure of adult and fetal mice to 50 Hz magnetic field does not increase the incidence of micronuclei in erythrocytes med./bio.

By: Abramsson-Zetterberg L, Grawe J

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2001; 22 (5): 351-357

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic field on micronuclei formation in erythrocytes of both adult and fetal mice.

Background/further details

The study included two different experiments:1.) 20 adult mice (7-8 weeks old, 10 female, 10 male) exposed for 18 days, and 2.) 20 mice exposed in utero during first 18 days of gestation. 35 days after exposure was terminated, peripheral blood was drawn from the offspring exposed in utero to determine whether the exposure had a genotoxic effect on the pluripotent erythroid stem cells.
The positive controls were gamma radiated mice.

Endpoint

genotoxicity/mutation: number of micronuclei

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 18 days (exposed or sham exposed)	magnetic flux density: 100 nT peak value (unspecified) (0.7 µT; Stray fields in control racks) magnetic flux density: 14 mT peak value (unspecified) (vertical)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	18 days (exposed or sham exposed)
Additional info	Reference article: Svedenstal BM, Johanson CJ, Leukocytes and micronucleated erythrocytes in peripheral blood from mice exposed to 50 Hz or 20 kHz magnetic fields. Electro- and megneto-biology 17:127-143, 1998

Exposure setup

Exposure source	current coils
Chamber	cages in different racks equipped with current coils
Additional info	sham exposure mice placed in identical racks

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 nT	peak value	cf. remarks	unspecified	0.7 µT; Stray fields in control racks
magnetic flux density	14 mT	peak value	cf. remarks	unspecified	vertical

Additional parameter details

in a seperate experiment mice were gamma irradiated at 265 mGy/day for 18 days.

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/CBA/Ca
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: number of micronuclei (flow cytometry)
body weight

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA
blood

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

After the electromagnetic field exposure of mice, adult and offspring, no effects on micronuclei formation in erythrocytes or body weight could be found.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Swedish Electricians Union (SEF)/Association of Swedish Electric Utilities, Sweden

Udroiu I et al. (2015): Genotoxicity induced by foetal and infant exposure to magnetic fields and modulation of ionising radiation effects
Okudan N et al. (2010): Effects of long-term 50 Hz magnetic field exposure on the micro nucleated polychromatic erythrocyte and blood lymphocyte frequency and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in lymphocytes of mice
Erdal N et al. (2007): Cytogenetic effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on Wistar rat bone marrow
Udroiu I et al. (2006): Clastogenicity and aneuploidy in newborn and adult mice exposed to 50 Hz magnetic fields
Ding GR et al. (2003): Induction of kinetochore-positive and kinetochore-negative micronuclei in CHO cells by ELF magnetic fields and/or X-rays
Simko M et al. (2001): Micronucleus induction in Syrian hamster embryo cells following exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields, benzo(a)pyrene, and TPA in vitro
Svedenstal BM et al. (1999): DNA damage, cell kinetics and ODC activities studied in CBA mice exposed to electromagnetic fields generated by transmission lines
Svedenstal BM et al. (1998): Effects of exposure to 50 Hz or 20 kHz magnetic fields on weights of body and some organs of CBA mice
Huuskonen H et al. (1998): Effects of low-frequency magnetic fields on fetal development in CBA/Ca mice
Svedenstal BM et al. (1998): Leukocytes and micronucleated erythrocytes in peripheral blood from mice exposed to 50 Hz or 20 kHz magnetic fields