ID Number		2339
Study Type		In Vivo
Model		DMBA mammary cancer model in rats exposed to power frequency fields (50 and 60 Hz).
Details		AUTHORS' ABSSTRACT: Anderson et al. 2000 (IEEE #5401): In line with the possible relationship between electric power and breast cancer risk and the underlying melatonin hypothesis, 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure at microtesla flux densities for either 13 or 27 weeks significantly increased the development and growth of mammary tumors in a series of experiments from Löscher's group in Germany. Löscher's group used the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model of breast cancer in Sprague-Dawley rats. The finding could not be replicated when a similar experimental protocol was used in a study conducted by Battelle in the United States. In the present paper, investigators from the two groups discuss differences between their studies that might explain the apparent discrepancies between the results. These differences include the use of different substrains of Sprague-Dawley rats (the U.S. rats were more susceptible to DMBA than the European rats), different sources for diet and DMBA, differences in environmental conditions, and differences in MF exposure metrics. Furthermore, the effects of MF exposure reported by Löscher's group, albeit significant, were weak. We also discuss the general problem of replicating such weak effects.
Findings		Effects (could not be replicated)
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Battelle, Richland, Washington USA
Funding Agency		NTP, USA
Country		UNITED STATES
References		Anderson , LE et al. Environ Health Perspect., (2000) 108:797-802 Anderson, LE et al. Carcinogenesis., (1999) 20:1615-1620 Anderson, LE American Industrial Hygiene Association journal., (1993) 54:186-196 DiGiovanni, J et al. Carcinogenesis., (1999) 20:685-689
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