Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on animal cancer and DNA damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Progress in biophysics and molecular biology Vol. 195; pp. 137 - 156
• Main Authors: Brabant, Christian, Honvo, Germain, Demonceau, Céline, Tirelli, Ezio, Léonard, François, Bruyère, Olivier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2025
• Subjects: Animal model; Animals; Cancer; DNA; DNA Damage; Humans; Leukemia; Magnetic fields; Magnetic Fields - adverse effects; Neoplasm; Neoplasms - etiology; Neoplasms - genetics; Rats; Neoplasm; Animal model; Magnetic fields; DNA; Leukemia; Cancer
• ISSN: 0079-6107; 1873-1732; 1873-1732
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.12.005

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the carcinogenic effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) by analyzing animal and comet assay studies. We have performed a global meta-analysis on all the animal studies on the relation between ELF-MF and cancer incidence and separate meta-analyses on the incidence of cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, brain cancer and DNA damage assessed with the comet assay. Of the 5145 references identified, 71 studies have been included in our systematic review and 22 studies in our meta-analyses. Our global meta-analysis indicated that ELF-MF exposure had no significant impact on the incidence of cancers in rodents (19 studies, OR = 1.10; 95% CI 0.91–1.32). However, our separate meta-analyses showed that ELF-MF increased the odds of developing leukemia in mice (4 studies, OR = 4.45; 95% CI 1.90–10.38) but not in rats. Our systematic review also suggests that ELF-MF can damage DNA in certain cell types like brain cells. Nevertheless, a meta-analysis on three comet assay studies indicated that ELF-MF did not increase DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells (SMD = −0.08; 95% CI -0.18-0.01). Overall, our results suggest that exposure to ELF-MF does not represent a major hazard for mammals and the carcinogenic effects of these magnetic fields could be limited to leukemia. •ELF-MF do not affect the odds of lymphoma, brain cancer and breast cancer in rodents.•ELF-MF could increase the odds of developing leukemia in mice but not in rats.•ELF-MF have no influence on survival and body weight in rodents.•ELF-MF do not increase DNA damage in neuroblastoma cells.•ELF-MF could damage DNA of certain cell types like brain cells in rodents.