EFFECTS OF 50 HZ EMF EXPOSURE ON MICRONUCLEUS FORMATION AND APOPTOSISIN TRANSFORMED AND NONTRANSFORMED HUMAN CELL-LINES

Effects of applying extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EL F-EMF) for different durations (24, 48, and 72 h) and different field intensities (0.1-1.0 mT) on micronucleus (MN) formation and induction of apoptosis were examined in a human squamous cell carcinoma cell lin e (SCL II) and in a human amniotic fluid cell line (AFC). A statistica lly significant increase of MN frequency and of induction of apoptosis in SCL II cells after 48-h and 72-h continuous exposure to 50 Hz ma,m agnetic field (IMF) (0.8 and 1.0 mT) was found. However, exposure of A FC cells to EMF of different intensities and for different exposure ti mes showed no statistically significant differences when compared with controls. These results demonstrate that different human cell types r espond differently to EMF. Dose dependent induction of apoptosis and g enotoxic effects, resulting in increased micronucleus formation, could be demonstrated in the transformed cell line, whereas the nontransfor med cell Line did not show statistically significant effects. These fi ndings suggest that EMF could be a promotor but not an initiator of ca rcinogenic effects. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.