Mutagenicity and co-mutagenicity of static magnetic fields detected by bacterial mutation assay

Possible mutagenic and co-mutagenic effects of strong static magnetic field s were estimated using bacterial mutagenicity test. Mutagenic potential of static magnetic fields up to 5T (T:1T = 10,000 G) was not detected by the b acterial mutagenicity test using four strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537) and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA either in the p re-incubation method or in the plate incorporation method. In the co-mutage nicity test, E. coli WP2 uvrA cells were treated with various chemical muta gens and were simultaneously exposed to a 2T or a 5T static magnetic field. Mutation rate in the exposed group was significantly higher than that in t he non-exposed group when cells were treated with N-ethyI-N'-nitro-N-nitros oguanidine (ENNG), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), ethylmethan esulfonate (EMS), 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imi dazo[4,5-f]quinol (IQ) or 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl) acrylamide (AF-2) , The mutagenicity of 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA), 9-aminoacridine (9-AA), N-4 -aminocytidine and 2-acetoamidofluorene (2-AAF) was not affected by the mag netic field exposure. Possible mechanisms of the co-mutagenicity of magneti c fields are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.