DNA Strand Breaks in Fibroblasts Exposed to a 50-Hz Magnetic Field

Bodies are exposed to environmental magnetic fields of low frequency produced by objects such as power lines. A large number of studies have investigated the biological effects of environmental magnetic fields [1]. However, the mechanism of magnetic field action on biological systems is not well understood, partly because of a lack of reproducibility. For example, studies based on the comet assay have reported DNA strand breaks caused by low-frequency magnetic fields at 1 mT [2], whereas some of later studies failed to confirm these results. Because DNA integrity is essential for the activities of life, the present study focused on the effect of low-frequency magnetic fields on DNA integrity.