Exposure to strong magnetic fields at power frequency potentiates X-ray-induced DNA strand breaks

We examined the effect of an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELFMF) at 5, 50 and 400 mT on DNA strand breaks in human glioma MO54 cells. A DNA damage analysis was performed using the method of alkaline comet assay. The cells were exposed to X-rays alone (5 Gy), ELFMF alone, or X-rays followed by ELFMF at 4 degrees C or on ice. No significant difference in the tail moment was observed between control and ELFMF exposures up to 400 mT. X-ray irradiation increased DNA strand breaks. When cells were exposed to X-rays followed by ELFMF at 50 and 400 mT, the tail moment increased significantly compared with that for X-rays alone. When the exposure of cells was performed at 37 degrees C, no significant change was observed between X-rays alone and X-rays plus 400 mT. We previously observed that exposure to 400 mT ELFMF for 2 h increased X-ray-induced mutations (Miyakoshi et al, Mutat. Res., 349: 109-114, 1996). Additionally, an increase in the mutation by exposure to the ELFMF was observed in cells during DNA-synthesizing phase (Miyakoshi et al., Int. J. Radiat. Biol., 71: 75-79, 1997). From these results, it appears that exposure to the high density ELFMF at more than 50 mT may potentiate X-ray-induced DNA strand breaks.