Repetitive exposure to a 60-Hz time-varying magnetic field induces DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis in human cells

We investigated the effects of extremely low frequency time-varying magnetic fields (MFs) on human normal and cancer cells. Whereas a single exposure to a 60-Hz time-varying MF of 6 mT for 30 min showed no effect, repetitive exposure decreased cell viability. This decrease was accompanied by phosphorylation of γ-H2AX, a common DNA double-strand break (DSB) marker, and checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2), which is critical to the DNA damage checkpoint pathway. In addition, repetitive exposure to a time-varying MF of 6 mT for 30 min every 24 h for 3 days led to p38 activation and induction of apoptosis in cancer and normal cells. Therefore, these results demonstrate that repetitive exposure to MF with extremely low frequency can induce DNA DSBs and apoptosis through p38 activation. These results also suggest the need for further evaluation of the effects of repetitive exposure to environmental time-varying MFs on human health.

Research highlights
► A 60-Hz MF induces DNA double-strand breaks.
► Repetitive exposures of 60-Hz MF induce apoptosis.
► Repetitive exposures of 60-Hz MF activate p38 phosphorylation in HeLa and IMR90 cells.