Mutation induction by high-density, 50-Hz magnetic fields in human MeWo cells exposed in the DNA synthesis phase

Abstract

Exposure of cultured human MeWo cells to highdensity (400 mT at 50 Hz) extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) induced mutations in the hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyl transferase gene. Mutation induced by the ELF-MF increased during the DNA-synthesis phase in synchronously growing cells. DNA replication errors and/or disturbance of the mismatch repair systems caused by exposure to ELF-MF may be involved in the mutagenic effect.