Time-varying magnetic fields of 60 Hz at 7 mT induce DNA double-strand breaks and activate DNA damage checkpoints without apoptosis.

The potential genotoxic effect of a time-varying magnetic field (MF) on human cells was investigated. Upon continuous exposure of human primary fibroblast and cervical cancer cells to a 60 Hz MF at 7 mT for 10-60 min, no significant change in cell viability was observed. However, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double-strand breaks (DSBs) were detected, and the DNA damage checkpoint pathway was activated in these cells without programmed cell death (called apoptosis).