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Possible cocarcinogenic effects of ELF electromagnetic fields may require repeated long‐term interaction with known carcinogenic factors
Author(s) -
Juutilainen Jukka,
Lang Sakari,
Rytömaa Tapio
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-186x(200002)21:2<122::aid-bem7>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - carcinogen , bioelectromagnetics , carcinogenesis , animal model , experimental animal , cancer , toxicology , biology , medicine , electromagnetic field , genetics , veterinary medicine , physics , quantum mechanics
Literature on cancer‐related biological effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) is discussed in the light of the current understanding of carcinogenesis as a multistep process of accumulating mutations. Different animal models and study designs have been used to address possible cocarcinogenic effects of MFs. Based on a comparison of the results, we propose a hypothesis that MF exposure may potentiate the effects of known carcinogens only when both exposures are chronic. We also discuss possible mechanisms of MF effects on carcinogenesis and the adequacy of the classical two‐step intiation/promotion animal experiments for simulating human exposure to the complex mixture of environmental carcinogens. We conclude that experiments designed according to the two‐step concept may not be sufficient for studying the possible role of MF in carcinogenesis. Possible further animal studies are more likely to be productive if they include models that combine chronic exposure to MFs with long‐term exposures to known carcinogens. Bioelectromagnetics 21:122–128, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.