Abstract
In 1987, Stevens presented a hypothesis that use of electric power may increase the risk of breast cancer (Stephens, 1987). This hypothesis was based on a number of experimental reports indicating an effect of light and extremely low frequency (ELF) electric fields on pineal melatonin production, and on the relationship of melatonin to mammary (breast) carcinogenesis. However, at the time when this hypothesis was presented it was not known whether ELF (50 or 60-Hz) magnetic fields (MF) affect pineal melatonin production in experimental animals and/or humans. Furthermore, there was no experimental evidence for increased breast cancer development or growth in response to MF exposure. This prompted us to carry out a series of experiments designed expressly to test the “melatonin hypothesis” of MF-promoted breast cancer development and growth in female rats (cf., Löscher and Mevissen, 1997).
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Löscher, W., Mevissen, M., Häuβler, M. (1999). Magnetic Fields and Breast Cancer: Experimental in Vivo Studies on the Melatonin Hypothesis. In: Bersani, F. (eds) Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4867-6_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4867-6_12
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