Exposure of mammalian cells to 60‐Hz magnetic or electric fields: Analysis for DNA single‐strand breaks

Abstract

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were exposed for 1 h to 60‐Hz magnetic fields (0.1 or 2 mT), electric fields (1 or 38 V/m), or to combined magnetic and electric fields (2 mT and 38 V/m, respectively). Following exposure, the cells were lysed, and the DNA was analyzed for the presence of single‐strand breaks (SSB), using the alkaline elution technique. No significant differences in numbers of DNA SSB were detected between exposed and sham‐exposed cells. A positive control exposed to X‐irradiation sustained SSB with a dose‐related frequency. Cells exposed to nitrogen mustard (a known cross‐linking agent) and X‐irradiation demonstrated that the assay could detect cross‐linked DNA under our conditions of electric and magnetic field exposures.