The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes induced by benzo(a)pyrene

The interaction of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in human lymphocytes was examined. A 60 Hz ELF-EMF of 0.8 mT field strength was applied either alone or with the tumor initiator, BP for 24 h. The frequencies of MN and SCE induced by BP increased in a dose-dependent manner. The co-exposure of cells to BP and 0.8 mT ELF-EMF for 24 h, followed by BP exposure for 48 h led to significant increases in the frequencies of MN and SCE compared to BP treatment for 72 h alone (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between field exposed and sham exposed control cells. The obtained results suggest that low density ELF-EMF could act as an enhancer of the initiation process of BP rather than as an initiator of mutagenic effects in human lymphocytes.