Objective: We analyzed the state of the issue on the experimental study of genotoxicity of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF).
Materials and methods: We performed the analysis of literary data on the experimental investigations of ELF EMF genotoxicity.
Results: The genotoxic effects of ELF EMF in the experiment were studied by many authors. Genotoxicity was assessed by means of the detection of the frequency of chromosomal aberration, sister chromatid exchange, DNA damage (Comet test), formation of micronuclei, and presence of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (biomarker of DNA oxidative damage). Investigations were conducted both in vivo and in vitro. Obtained results were dissimilar and contradictory. However, a number of the works, confirming the genotoxicity of ELF EMF in the range from 35 μT to 5 mT in vitro and from 100 μT to 5 mT in vivo and proving the oxidative mechanisms of DNA damage, increased last years. A role of the alterations of DNA repair processes and epigenetic changes, caused by ELF EMF, is suggested.
Conclusion: Owing to data limitation, there is a need of further biophysical and molecule-biological studies for the defection of the basic mechanisms in ELF EMF genotoxic effects realization and a study of dose-time regularities of their manifestations at the effect of ELF EMF levels affecting a human under environmental and occupational conditions, taking into account the effect of the accompanying chemical and physical factors as well. The solution of these problems is necessary for the development of the effective measures for the protection of the population from ELF EMF harmful impact.

extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF), genotoxicity in vivo, in vitro.

1. Repacholi M. Science and precautionary measures in EMF Policy. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.10 (2010), 012001. URL : http:// iopscience. iop.org/1755-1315/10/1

2. JARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Non-ionizing Radiation, Part 1: Static and Extremely Low-frequency (ELF) Electric and Magnetic Fields. Lyon : JARC ; 2002 ; 80.

3. JARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Non-ionizing Radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. Lyon : JARC ; 2013 ; 102 : 143-188.

4. SCENIHR (2015) Opinion on Potential Health Effects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) / European Commission, DG Health and Food Safety. URL : http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_commitees emerging/docs/scenihr_o_041.pdf.

5. Steward B.W. and Wild C.P. (eds.) World Cancer Report 2014. Lyon : JARC; WHO : 630 p.

6. Ruediger H.W. Pathophysiology. 2009 ; 16(2-3) : 89-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pathophys.2008.11.004

7. Udroiu J., Giuliani L. and Ieradi L.A. Eur. J. Oncol. Library. 2010 ; 5 : 123-134.

8. Paile W., Jokela K., Koivistonen A. and Salomaa S. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg. 1995 ; 36 : 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/0302-4598(94)01723-E

9. Khalil A.M., Quasem W. and Amoura F. Mutat. Res. 1991; 247 : 141-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/0027-5107(91)90041-L

10. Antonopoulos A., Yang B., Stamm A., Heller W.D. and Obe G. Mutat. Res. 1995 ; 356 : 151-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-7992(95)90047-0

11. Maes A., Collier M., Vandoninck S., Scarpa P. and Verschaeve L. Bioelectromagnetics. 2000 ; 21 (8) : 589-596. https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-186X(200012)21:8<589::AID-BEM5>3.0.CO;2-X

12. Nordenson I., Mild K.H., Andersson G. and Sandström M. Bioelectromagnetics. 1994; 15 : 293-301. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250150404

13. 1.Simko M., Kriehuber R., Weiss D.G. and Luben R.A. Bioelectromagnetics. 1998 ; 19 : 85-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1998)19:2<85::AID-BEM5>3.0.CO;2-#

14. Winker R., Ivancsits S., Pilger A., Adlkofer F. and Rüdiger H.W. Mutat Res. 2005 ; 585 : 43-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2005.04.013

15. Testa A., Cordelli E., Stronati L., Marino C, Lovisolo G.A., Fresegna A.M., Conti D. and Villani P. Bioelectromagnetics. 2004 ; 25 : 613-619. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.20048