Cytogenetic effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields of different magnetic flux densities

Cytogenetic investigations were performed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes following exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields alone or in combination with the chemical mutagen mitomycin C or with X-rays. It was found that magnetic fields up to 2500 microT did not significantly influence the chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange frequency. Also, the combined treatments failed to indicate the presence of any synergistic, potentiating, or antagonistic effect between the ELF magnetic fields and the mutagens. However, there were two exceptions: Cells exposed to 504 microT magnetic fields before and during cultivation displayed a statistically significant decrease in sister chromatid exchange frequency. Also, when cells were cultivated in the presence of 88.4 microT magnetic fields following X-ray exposures there was a significant increase in chromosome aberration frequency compared to X-ray exposure alone.