Dr Rob Mairs, University of Glasgow

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMF) and an increased risk of childhood leukaemia.

However, a large number of laboratory investigations, using both animal and human cells, which have set out to determine the ability of EMF to damage genetic material have proved inconclusive or negative.

This may be due to the inability of the applied methodology to detect subtle, yet potentially catastrophic, mutations at the molecular level.

Dr Mairs and colleagues have recently detected an increased rate of mutation, in parts of human DNA known as microsatellites, after irradiation of brain tumour cells with EMF.

Their results suggest not only that EMF alone causes mutations but also that it can increase the number of mutations induced by ionising radiation (a well known cancer-causing agent).

They believe that, unlike their microsatellite procedure, methods employed hitherto have not been sufficiently sensitive to enable a reliable estimate of the capacity of EMF to bring about mutations.

Therefore they propose to use the microsatellite method to determine mutation rates following the treatment of blood cells from mice with EMF alone or in combination with ionising radiation.

They will also explore the recent finding that intermittent exposure to EMF is more toxic to genetic material than continuous exposure.

These investigations should give a clearer indication of the potential of EMF to initiate leukaemia.

Clear demonstration of the toxic effects of EMF in blood cells would provide a clear mechanistic explanation for the association between these fields and childhood leukaemia and would lead to a reassessment of a number of current assumptions and beliefs about the health effects of exposure to EMF.

Photo: Researcher Anne Marie Clarke presenting early findings from the project at the 2007 National Cancer Research Institute Conference.

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