A 60-Hz magnetic field increases the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas in mice previously exposed to chemical carcinogens.

The exposure of tumor-bearing SENCAR mice to a magnetic field of 2 mT at a frequency of 60 Hz for 52 weeks, was found to increase the rate of malignant conversion in chemically-induced dorsal skin papillomas. Detailed histopathology revealed the presence of squamous cell papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas in both sham and magnetic field exposed mice at week 52. However, of the nine mice assessed as having squamous cell carcinomas, eight came from the group exposed to magnetic fields, a difference which is statistically significant at P = 0.03.