Effect of low-level, 60-Hz electromagnetic fields on human lymphoid cells: I. Mitotic rate and chromosome breakage in human peripheral lymphocytes.

Dividing human peripheral lymphocytes from 10 normal adults (5 males and 5 females) were exposed in vitro to low level 60-Hz electromagnetic fields for 69 hours. The current density of the electrical field was 30 microA/cm2, while the magnetic field was either 1 or 2 gauss. The cytological endpoints measured were mitotic rate and chromosome breakage. No statistically significant differences, indicative of a field effect, were observed between treated and control cells whether exposed to an electric field, a magnetic field, or to various combinations of the two.