Cytological effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on human lymphocytes in vitro

Abstract

Incubation of human peripheral blood cultures in the presence of an electromagnetic field (EMF) of 50 Hz and 5 mT leads to stimulation of the cell cycle of dividing lymphocytes but has no influence on the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges. Comparative studies with two different exposure systems and with different culture temperatures indicate that the effect on the cell cycle results from the EMF and is not a thermal effect. These data support the assumption that with respect to their suspected carcinogenic effects EMFs have no initiating but probably promoting effects.