Genotoxic Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Among Workers of the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas v1

Résumé

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are generated when electric charges are in motion. These fields result from the combination of two waves—one electric and one magnetic—that propagate at the speed of light. According to the World Health Organization, EMFs are defined as fields with frequencies equal to or below 300 Hz. Exposure to EMFs may be of natural origin, including terrestrial sources and electrophysiological signals. It may also be of artificial origin, emanating from power lines in homes, telephones, televisions, and all household appliances. Environmental exposure arises from high-voltage power lines, mobile telephony relays, radio and television broadcasting transmitters, radars, and detection gates. Power plant workers are chronically exposed to EMFs generated during electricity production, transmission through power lines and transformers, and distribution networks. These EMFs, ubiquitous in both daily life and occupational environments, have attracted significant research interest regarding their physiological and pathophysiological effects on the human body. The study by Wertheimer et al., published in 1979, raised concerns about a possible association between EMF exposure and childhood leukemia. Since then, an increasing number of studies have suggested a link between exposure to extremely low-frequency EMFs and the incidence of various cancers, including childhood leukemia. Since 2002, these fields have been classified as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Furthermore, additional effects have been suggested through in vivo and in vitro studies. Some authors have reported that exposure to such fields may disrupt neuroendocrine activity and lead to stress, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and sleep disturbances. Mattsson and Simkó also reported that biological processes, systems, and components—such as cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, metabolism, cell differentiation, and physiological cell functions—may be affected by EMF exposure. Some epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that low-frequency EMFs may induce primary DNA damage in vivo and cytogenetic effects by suppressing apoptosis, altering cell proliferation, and activating genes and proteins involved in cell cycle control and cellular responses to DNA damage. Serap Celikler et al. reported chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers occupationally exposed to 50–60 Hz EMFs. However, studies in this field remain inconclusive, with often contradictory findings that are difficult to interpret due to methodological biases in studies directly assessing genotoxicity in exposed humans. In this context, the present study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxic effects of low-frequency EMFs among workers in a power generation plant.

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