Exposure of Extremely-Low Frequency (ELF) magnetic field may cause human cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic exposure of non-ionizing extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) is considered as a health hazard due to its adverse effects on human body such as generation of any type of cancer. Stem cells are appropriate models to assess the effects of ELF-EMF on other cell lines and human beings. Materials and methods: Adipose tissue has been known as source of multi potent stromal human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which can be obtained in less invasive method and in large amounts; so adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were used in this study. Effect of ELF-EMF (intensities of 0.5 and 1 mT and 50 Hz) on proliferation rate of hADSCs was assessed in 20 and 40 min per day for 7 days. Trypan blue assay was performed to assess cell proliferation rate. Result: The results shown that 0.5 and 1 mT magnetic fields can promote the proliferation rate of adipose derived hMSCs according to the duration of exposure. Conclusion: These outcomes could approve the effect of ELF-EMF on cancer induction; although the effective mechanisms in this process are still unknown.

Keywords

• Electromagnetic fields
• extremely low frequency
• exposure
• cancer
• stem cell