Primary DNA damage in welders occupationally exposed to extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF)

• Published in: Annali di igiene Vol. 27; no. 3; p. 511
• Main Authors: Villarini, Milena, Dominici, Luca, Fatigoni, Cristina, Levorato, Sara, Vannini, Samuele, Monarca, Silvano, Moretti, Massimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Chromium - chemistry; Comet Assay; DNA Damage; Humans; Leukocytes - metabolism; Magnetic Fields - adverse effects; Male; Middle Aged; Nickel - chemistry; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Pilot Projects; Welding; Electric arc welders; ELF-MF; Occupational exposure; Comet assay; Extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields
• ISSN: 1120-9135
• DOI: 10.7416/ai.2015.2041

Electric arc welding is known to involve considerable exposure to extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF; 50 Hz). The aim of the present study was to evaluate individual exposure to ELF-MF during arc welding and to assess the eventually associated genotoxic hazard by evaluating primary DNA damage. The study group comprised 21 electric arc welders (exposed) and 21 non-exposed control subjects (healthy blood donors). Occupational exposure to ELF-MF was measured using personal dosimeters worn during one complete work-shift (7 am to 5 pm). The extent of primary DNA damage was measured in peripheral blood leukocytes with the standard procedure of the alkaline comet assay. Tail length showed to have similar values in welders and controls. Whereas, the data showed a significant decrease for tail intensity (p = 0.01) and tail moment (p = 0.02) counts in exposed subjects compared to controls. The different results of our present study and published investigations from other research groups reporting positive results in the comet assay might be a result of different chromium and/or nickel (or other metals) exposure levels, which lead to DNA-protein cross-links at lower concentrations and DNA single-strand breakages at higher concentrations. Since these results are derived from a small-scale pilot study, a larger scale study should be undertaken.