Chromosome Aberrations in Lymphocytes of high-voltage Laboratory Cable Splicers Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields

Thirteen high-voltage laboratory employees and 20 referents participated in a cross-sectional, matched-pairs study of cytogenetic damage. During cable testing the workers were exposed to static, alternating, or pulsed electric and magnetic fields. The alternating magnetic field levels of 50 Hz were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Environment ＆ Health, 1993-02, Vol.19 (1), p.29-34
Main Authors: Skyberg, Knut, Hansteen, Inger-Lise, Vistnes, Arnt Inge
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aneuploidy
Biological and medical sciences
Chromatids
Chromosome aberrations
Chromosome Aberrations - genetics
Chromosome breakage
Cytogenetics
DNA Damage - genetics
Effects of various physical factors on living matter (vibrations, electric field, ultrasound, sound...)
Electric fields
Electromagnetic Fields
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes - ultrastructure
Magnetic fields
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Referents
Risk Factors
Smoking - adverse effects
Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
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Summary:Thirteen high-voltage laboratory employees and 20 referents participated in a cross-sectional, matched-pairs study of cytogenetic damage. During cable testing the workers were exposed to static, alternating, or pulsed electric and magnetic fields. The alternating magnetic field levels of 50 Hz were 5— 10 μT, occasionally much higher. Chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and aneuploidy were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes. In addition, chromosome aberrations were investigated in lymphocyte cultures treated with hydroxyurea and caffeine, to inhibit deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and repair. Among seven smoking laboratory employees the mean number of chromosome breaks/200 cells was 2.3, as compared with 0.7 for the job-matched referents. The comparable figures for inhibited cultures were 12.0 versus 6.0. No increase was detected in nonsmokers with either method. The other genetic parameters showed no differences between the exposed workers and the referents. The results support, to some extent, the hypothesis of an increased risk of genotoxic effects among high-voltage laboratory workers.
ISSN:0355-3140
1795-990X
DOI:10.5271/sjweh.1507