DNA damage is an alteration in the chemical structure of DNA, such as a break in a strand of DNA, a base missing from the backbone of DNA, or a chemically changed base such as 8-OHdG. Damage to DNA that occurs naturally can result from metabolic or hydrolytic processes.
Toxicity to the genome can lead to a change in cellular functions, cancer, and cell death. A large number of studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on DNA and chromosomal structures.
The single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) has been widely used to determine DNA damages: single and double strand breaks and cross-links. Studies have also been carried out to investigate chromosomal conformation and micronucleus formation in cells after exposure to EMF.
Electromagnetic Fields and DNA Damage: Dr. Jerry Phillips