Increased chromatid-type chromosomal aberrations in mouse m5S cells exposed to power-line frequency magnetic fields

Purpose : To investigate the induction of chromosomal aberrations in mouse m5S cells after exposure to power-line frequency magnetic fields (extremely low frequency magnetic fields; ELFMF) at high-flux densities. Material and methods : m5S cells were either untreated or pretreated during the G1 phase with mitomycin C (MMC, 1 μ M) for 1 h or 3Gy X-rays, and then exposed to ELFMF at three different flux densities (5 and 50mT at 60 Hz, 400 mT at 50 Hz) for 40 h. Unexposed control cells were incubated for the same period in a conventional CO 2 incubator. Chromosomal aberrations were analysed in the first post-treatment metaphases. Cell kinetics were assessed by DNA flow cytometry and the mitotic index. Results and conclusions : ELFMF enhanced the formation of spontaneous and MMC- or X-ray-induced chromosomal aberrations, in a flux-density-dependent manner. Statistically significant increases in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations were observed in cells exposed to 400mT ELFMF with respect to unexposed con...