Toxicologic Pathology

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Register here to gain access to SAGE's 500+ Journals Online

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boorman, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Haseman, J. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boorman, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Haseman, J. K.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 27, No. 3, 267-278 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/019262339902700301

Chronic Toxicity/Oncogenicity Evaluation of 60 Hz (Power Frequency) Magnetic Fields in F344/N Rats

Gary A. Boorman

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, Boorman{at}niehs.nih.gov.

David L. McCormick

Illinois Institute of Toxicology Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois 60616-3799

John C. Findlay

Illinois Institute of Toxicology Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois 60616-3799

James R. Hailey

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

James R. Gauger

Illinois Institute of Toxicology Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois 60616-3799

Tim R. Johnson

Illinois Institute of Toxicology Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois 60616-3799

Robert M. Kovatch

Pathology Associates International, Frederick, Maryland 21701

Robert C. Sills

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

Joseph K. Haseman

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

A 2-yr whole-body exposure study was conducted to evaluate the chronic toxicity and possible oncogenicity of 60 Hz (power frequency) magnetic fields in rats. Groups of 100 male and 100 female F344/N rats were exposed continuously to pure, linearly polarized, transient-free 60 Hz magnetic fields at flux densities of 0 Gauss (G) (sham control), 20 milligauss (mG), 2 G, and 10 G; an additional group of 100 male and 100 female F344/N rats received intermittent (1 hr on/1 hr off) exposure to 10 G fields. Mortality patterns, body weight gains throughout the study, and the total incidence and number of malignant and benign tumors in all groups exposed to magnetic fields were similar to those found in sex-matched sham controls. Statistically significant increases in the combined incidence of C-cell adenomas and carcinomas of the thyroid were seen in male rats chronically exposed to 20 mG and 2 G magnetic fields. These increases were not seen in male rats exposed continuously or intermittently to 10 G fields or in female rats at any magnetic field exposure level. No increases in the incidence of neoplasms, which have been identified in epidemiology studies as possible targets of magnetic field action (leukemia, breast cancer, and brain cancer), were found in any group exposed to magnetic fields. There was a decrease in leukemia in male rats exposed to 10 G intermittent fields. The occurrence of C-cell tumors at the 2 lower field intensities in male rats is interpreted as equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity; data from female rats provides no evidence of carcinogenicity in that sex. These data, when considered as a whole, are interpreted as indicating that chronic exposure to pure linearly polarized 60 Hz magnetic fields has little or no effect on cancer development in the F344/N rat.

Key Words: Rodent carcinogenicity studies • electromagnetic fields • extremely low frequency (ELF) • alternating fields • cancer • bioassay • thyroid C-cell tumors

References

  • Ahlbom A. (1988). A review of the epidemiologic literature on magnetic fields and cancer. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 14: 337-343.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Analytical Sciences, Inc. (ASI) (1996). Tumor Incidence in Control Animals by Route and Vehicle of Administration; F344/N Rats. Analytical Sciences, Inc., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
  • Barnes F., Wachtel H., Savitz D., and Fuller J. (1989). Use of wiring configuration and wiring codes for estimating externally generated electric and magnetic fields. Bioelectromagnetics 10: 13-21.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Beers GJ (1989). Biological effects of weak electromagnetic fields from 0 Hz to 200 MHz: A survey of the literature with special emphasis on possible magnetic resonance effects. Magn. Reson. Imaging 7: 309-331.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Black HE, Capen CC, and Young DM (1973). Ultimobranchial thyroid neoplasms in bulls. Cancer 32: 865-878.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Boorman GA, DeLellis RA, and Elwell MR (1996). C-cell hyperplasia, C-cell adenoma and C-cell carcinoma, thyroid, rat. In: Endocrine System, 2nd ed., TC Jones, CC Capen, and U Mohr (eds). Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp. 262-274.
  • Boorman GA, Gauger JR, Johnson TR, Tomlinson MJ, Findlay JC, Travlos GS, and McCormick DL (1997). Eight-week toxicity study of 60 Hz magnetic fields in F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 35: 55-63.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Boorman GA, Heersche Jnm, and Hollander CF (1974). Transplantable calcitonin-secreting medullary carcinomas of the thyroid in the WAG/Rij rat. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 53: 1011-1015.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Boorman GA and Hollander CF (1973). Spontaneous lesions in the female WAG/Rij rat. J. Gerontol. 28: 152-159.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Boorman GA, Montgomery Caj, Eustis SL, Wolfe MJ, McConnell EE, and Hardisty JF (1985). Quality assurance in pathology for rodent carcinogenicity studies. In: Handbook of Carcinogen Testing, HA Milman and EK Weisburger (eds). Noyes, Park Ridge, New Jersey, pp. 345-357.
  • Boorman GA, van Noord MJ, and Hollander CF (1972). Naturally occurring medullary thyroid carcinoma in the rat. Arch. Pathol. 94: 35-41.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Coleman MP, Bell CM, Taylor HL, and Primic ZM (1989). Leukaemia and residence near electricity transmission equipment: A case-control study. Br. J. Cancer 60: 793-798 (See comments).[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Cox DR (1972). Regression models and life-tables. J. R. Stat. Soc. B34: 187-220.
  • Deadman JE Camus M., Armstrong BG, Heroux P., Cyr D., Plante M., and Theriault G. (1988). Occupational and residential 60-Hz electromagnetic fields and high-frequency electric transients: Exposure assessment using a new dosimeter. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 49: 409-419.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Demers PA, Thomas DB, Rosenblatt KA, Jimenez LM, McTiernan A., Stalsberg HJ, Stemhagen A., Thompson WD, Curnen Mgm, Stariano W., Austin DF, Isacson P., Greenberg RS, Key C., Kolonel LN, and West DW (1991). Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and breast cancer in men. Am. J. Epidemiol. 134: 340-347.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Fear NT, Roman E., Carpenter LM, Newton R., and Bull D. (1996). Cancer in electrical workers: An analysis of cancer registration in England 1981-1987. Br. J. Cancer 73: 935-939.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Feychting M. and Ahlbom A. (1993). Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines. Am. J. Epidemiol. 138: 467-481 (See comments).[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Feychting M., Florssen U., and Floderus B. (1997). Occupational and residential magnetic field exposure and leukemia and central nervous system tumors. Epidemiology 8: 384-389.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Fulton JP, Cobb S., Preble L., Leone L., and Forman E. (1980). Electrical wiring configurations and childhood leukemia in Rhode Island. Am. J. Epidemiol. 111: 292-296.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Gauger JR (1985). Household appliance magnetic field survey. IEEE Trans. Power Appliance Syst. PAS 104: 2436-2445.
  • Gauger JR, Johnson TR, Stangel JE, Patterson RC, Williams DA, Harder JB, and McCormick DL (1999). Design, construction, and validation of a large capacity rodent magnetic field exposure laboratory. Bioelectromagnetics 20: 13-23.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Gilman PA, Ames RG, and McCawley MA (1985). Leukemia risk among U.S. white male coal miners. A case-control study. J. Occup. Med. 27: 669-671.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Greenberg RS and Shuster JJ (1985). Epidemiology of cancer in children. Epidemiol. Rev. 7: 22-48.[Free Full Text]
  • Hardisty JF and Boorman GA (1990). Thyroid gland. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat, GA Boorman, SL Eustis, MR Elwell, CAJ Montgomery, and WF MacKenzie (eds). Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 519-536.
  • Haseman JK and Elwell MR (1996). Evaluation of false positives and false negative outcomes in NTP long-term rodent carcinogenicity studies. Risk Anal. 16: 813-820.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • House RV, Ratajczak HV, Gauger JR, Johnson TR, Thomas PT, and McCormick DL (1966). Immune function and host defense in rodents exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 34: 228-239.[CrossRef]
  • Johansen C. and Olsen JH (1998). Risk of cancer among Danish utility workers—A nationwide cohort study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 147: 548-555.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Linet MS, Hatch EE, Kleinerman RA, Robison LL, Kaune WT, Friedman DR, Severson RK, Haines CM, Hartsock CT, Niwa S., Wacholder S., and Tarone RE (1997). Residential exposure to magnetic fields and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. N. Engl. J. Med. 337: 1-7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Logonder-Mlinsek M. and Pajer Z. (1993). The long-term effect of a calcium diet on the bone tissue, C-cells and parathyroid glands of the rat. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 16: 687-690.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Mandeville R., Franco E., Sidrac-Ghali S., Paris-Nadon L., Rocheleau N., Mercier G., Desy M., and Gaboury L. (1997). Evaluation of the potential carcinogenicity of 60 Hz linear sinusoidal continuous-wave magnetic fields in Fischer F344 rats. FASEB J. 11: 1127-1136.[Abstract]
  • McCormick DL, Ryan BM, Findlay JC, Gauger JR, Johnson TR, Morrissey RL, and Boorman GA (1998). Magnetic field exposure and risk of lymphoma in PIM transgenic and TSG-p53 (p53 knockout) mice. Carcinogenesis 19: 1649-1653.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • McCormick DL, Boorman GA, Findlay JC, Hailey JR, Johnson TR, Gauger JR, Pletcher JM, Sills RC, and Haseman JK (1999). Chronic toxicity/oncogenicity evaluation of 60 Hz (power frequency) magnetic fields in B6C3F1 mice. Toxicol. Pathol. 27: 279-285 (this issue).[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Meyers A., Clayden AD, Cartwright RA, and Cartwright SC (1990). Childhood cancer and overhead powerlines: A case-control study. Br. J. Cancer 62: 1008-1014.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Michaelson SM (1987). Influence of power frequency electric and magnetic fields on human health. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 502: 55-75.[Abstract]
  • Miller AB, To T., Agnew DA, Wall C., and Green LM (1996). Leukemia following occupational exposure to 60-Hz electric and magnetic fields among Ontario electric utility workers. Am. J. Epidemiol. 144: 150-160.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • National Research Council (NRC) (1997). Possible Health Effects of Exposure to Residential Electric and Magnetic Fields. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
  • National Toxicology Program (NTP) (1996). Toxicity Studies of 60-Hz Magnetic Fields Administered by Whole Body Exposure to F344/N Rats, Sprague-Dawley Rats, and B6C3F1 Mice. Technical Report Series No. TR 488, NIH Publication No. 98-3978. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
  • Olsen JH, Nielsen A., and Schulgen G. (1993). Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children. BMJ 307: 891-895 (See comments).[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Portier CJ and Bailer AJ (1989). Testing for increased carcinogenicity using a survival-adjusted quantal response test. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 12: 731-737.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Portier CJ, Hedges JC, and Hoel DG (1986). Age-specific models of mortality and tumor onset for historical control animals in the National Toxicology Program's carcinogenicity experiments. Cancer Res. 46: 4372-4378.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Portier C and Wolfe M (eds) (1998). Assessment of Health Effects From Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields. NIH Publication No. 98-3981, NIEHS Working Group Report, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
  • Rao GN (1996). New diet (NTP-2000) for rats in the National Toxicology Program toxicity and carcinogenicity studies. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 32: 102-108.[CrossRef]
  • Rao GN (1997). New nonpurified diet (NTP-2000) for rodents in the National Toxicology Program's toxicology and carcinogenesis studies. J. Nutr. 127: 842S-846S.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Ryan BM, Mallett EJ, Johnson TR, Gauger JR, and McCormick DL (1996). Developmental toxicity study of 60 Hz (power frequency) magnetic fields in rats. Teratology 54: 73-83.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Ryan BM, Mallett EJ, Johnson TR, Gauger JR, and McCormick DL (1999). Reproductive toxicity study of 60 Hz (power frequency) magnetic fields in Sprague Dawley rats. Teratology (in press).
  • Savitz DA (1993). Epidemiologic studies of electric and magnetic fields and cancer: Strategies for extending knowledge. Environ. Health Perspect. 4: 83-91.
  • Savitz DA (1993). Overview of epidemiologic research on electric and magnetic fields and cancer. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 54: 197-204.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Savitz DA and Loomis DP (1995). Magnetic field exposure in relation to leukemia and brain cancer mortality among electric utility workers. Am. J. Epidemiol. 141: 123-134.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Savitz DA, Wachtel H., Barnes FA, John EM, and Tvrdik JG (1988). Case-control study of childhood cancer and exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields. Am. J. Epidemiol. 128: 21-38 (See comments).[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Tarone RE (1975). Tests for trend in life table analysis. Biometrika 62: 679-682.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Theriault G., Goldberg M., Miller AB, Armstrong B., Guenel P., Deadman J., Imbernon E., To T., Chevalier A., and Cyr D. (1994). Cancer risks associated with occupational exposure to magnetic fields among electric utility workers in Ontario and Quebec, Canada, and France: 1970-1989. Am. J. Epidemiol. 139: 550-572 (published erratum appears in Am. J. Epidemiol. 139(10): 1053).[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Thompson SW and Hunt RD (1963). Spontaneous tumors in the Sprague-Dawley rat: Incidence rates of some types of neoplasms as determined by serial sections versus single section techniques. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 108: 823-845.
  • Tynes T. and Haldorsen T. (1997). Electromagnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Norwegian high-voltage power lines. Am. J. Epidemiol. 145: 219-226.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Verkasalo PK, Pukkala E., Hongisto MY, Valjus Je, Jarvinen PJ, Heikkila KV, and Koskenvuo M. (1993). Risk of cancer in Finnish children living close to power lines. BMJ 307: 895-899 (See comments).[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Wertheimer N. and Leeper E. (1979). Electrical wiring configurations and childhood cancer. Am. J. Epidemiol. 109: 273-284.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Yasui M., Kikuchi T., Ogawa M., Otaka Y., Tsuchitani M., and Iwata H. (1997). Carcinogenicity test of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic fields in rats. Bioelectromagnetics 18: 531-540.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CarcinogenesisHome page
M. Fedrowitz and W. Loscher
Exposure of Fischer 344 rats to a weak power frequency magnetic field facilitates mammary tumorigenesis in the DMBA model of breast cancer
Carcinogenesis, January 1, 2008; 29(1): 186 - 193.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
M. S. Linet, S. Wacholder, and S. H. Zahm
Interpreting Epidemiologic Research: Lessons From Studies of Childhood Cancer
Pediatrics, July 1, 2003; 112(1): 218 - 232.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CarcinogenesisHome page
R. M. Ansari and T. K. Hei
Effects of 60 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields (EMF) on radiation- and chemical-induced mutagenesis in mammalian cells
Carcinogenesis, June 1, 2000; 21(6): 1221 - 1226.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Toxicol PatholHome page
D. L. Mccormick, G. A. Boorman, J. C. Findlay, J. R. Hailey, T. R. Johnson, J. R. Gauger, J. M. Pletcher, R. C. Sills, and J. K. Haseman
Chronic Toxicity/Oncogenicity Evaluation of 60 Hz (Power Frequency) Magnetic Fields in B6C3F1 Mice
Toxicol Pathol, May 1, 1999; 27(3): 279 - 285.
[Abstract] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boorman, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Haseman, J. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boorman, G. A.
Right arrow Articles by Haseman, J. K.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?