ENHANCED MUTAGENIC EFFECT OF A 60 HZ TIME-VARYING MAGNETIC-FIELD ON NUMBERS OF AZIDE-INDUCED TA100 REVERTANT COLONIES

Forty-eight hours exposure to a two Gauss (0.2 mT) rms 60 Hz time vary ing sinusoidal electromagnetic field increased the number of azide ind uced TA100 revertant colonies of Salmonella typhimurium 14% as compare d with controls in the ambient <2 milli-Gauss 60 Hz field. In the abse nce of the electromagnetic field, the numbers of mutant colonies grown within and outside the non-energized coil were nearly identical. With out azide, the number of ''spontaneous'' mutant colonies forming in t he experimental field was not statistically significant from numbers o f colonies not exposed to field effects. Experimental temperature vari ation of 2 degrees C had little effect on colony formation, and the en hanced production of revertant colonies in the presence of the magneti c field was maintained during continued culture for 5 additional days. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.