Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Development of preincubated chicken eggs following exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields with 1.33-7.32 mT flux densities med./bio.

By: Shams Lahijani M, Sajadi K

Published in: Indian J Exp Biol 2004; 42 (9): 858-865

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on 307 healthy, freshly fertilized white leghorn chicken eggs (55-65 g).

Endpoint

effects on embryo/fetus: teratogenicity/embryonal development

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 24 h	magnetic flux density: 7.32 mT maximum (6.90 mT, 6.65 mT, 5.86 mT, 5.52 mT, 5.32 mT, 4.39 mT, 4.14 mT, 3.39 mT, 2.93 mT, 2.76 mT, 2.66 mT, 1.46 mT, 1.38 mT and 1.33 mT) magnetic flux density: 7.32 mT maximum (6.90 mT, 6.65 mT, 5.86 mT, 5.52 mT, 5.32 mT, 4.39 mT, 4.14 mT, 3.39 mT, 2.93 mT, 2.76 mT, 2.66 mT, 1.46 mT, 1.38 mT and 1.33 mT)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	unspecified
Exposure duration	continuous for 24 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cylindrical coil 42 cm long, 9.6 cm inside and 11.5 cm outside diameter, respectively
Chamber	The coil was placed in an east west direction, inside the incubator.
Setup	In each experiment, 5 eggs were placed inside the coil with their long axis parallel to the embryo`s long axis and perpendicular to the egg`s long axis. Sham exposure group was placed inside the coil but in the absense of MF. Control group was placed outside the coil.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	7.32 mT	maximum	calculated	-	6.90 mT, 6.65 mT, 5.86 mT, 5.52 mT, 5.32 mT, 4.39 mT, 4.14 mT, 3.39 mT, 2.93 mT, 2.76 mT, 2.66 mT, 1.46 mT, 1.38 mT and 1.33 mT
magnetic flux density	7.32 mT	maximum	calculated	-	6.90 mT, 6.65 mT, 5.86 mT, 5.52 mT, 5.32 mT, 4.39 mT, 4.14 mT, 3.39 mT, 2.93 mT, 2.76 mT, 2.66 mT, 1.46 mT, 1.38 mT and 1.33 mT

Exposed system:

fertilized chicken eggs

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on embryo/fetus: morphological and skeletal abnormalities; investigation of eyes, beak, developmental stage, tail, CNS, limbs, stage of death, crown-rump length, top of the beak to occipital bone (different stainings)
weight of eggs and embryos

Investigated system:

fertilized chicken eggs; dead embryos

Investigated organ system:

muscular/skeletal system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

After exposure at 4.19, 5.32, 5.86, and 6.65 mT magnetic flux densities there was a significant difference in the percentage of abnormal embryos comparing with control embryos. Skeletal investigation showed some embryos with extra ribs, defects in ribs and vertebrae and abnormal beaks.
There were no significant differences in egg weight, after 9 days of incubation, between control, sham-exposed and exposed groups. There were no effects on crown-rump length and beak-occipital length. There was a significant decrease in embryo weight after 4.39 and 5.52 mT exposure, comparing with control and sham-exposed embryos.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Lola Costa EV et al. (2020): Morphometric evaluation of Japanese quail embryos and their extraembryonic vascular networks exposed to low-frequency magnetic field with two different intensities
Costa EV et al. (2015): Multifractal dimension and lacunarity of yolk sac vasculature after exposure to magnetic field
Pawlak K et al. (2013): Effect of weak electromagnetic field on cardiac work, concentration of thyroid hormones and blood aminotransferase level in the chick embryo
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2013): Effects of 50 Hz extremely low frequency sinusoidal magnetic fields on the apoptosis of the hearts of preincubated chicken embryos at different levels of developments
Costa EV et al. (2013): Fractal analysis of extra-embryonic vascularization in Japanese quail embryos exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields
Lahijani MS et al. (2013): Effects of the ELF-MFs on the development of spleens of preincubated chicken embryos
Roda O et al. (2011): Biological effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields on the embryonic central nervous system development. A histological and histochemical study
Lahijani MS et al. (2011): Effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on histopathology and structures of brains of preincubated white Leghorn chicken embryos
Lahijani MS et al. (2011): Effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on the histology, apoptosis, and expression of c-Fos and beta-catenin on the livers of preincubated white Leghorn chicken embryos
Sun H et al. (2010): Effects of prenatal exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field on one-trial passive avoidance learning in 1-day-old chicks
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2009): Histopathological and ultrastructural studies on the effects of electromagnetic fields on the liver of preincubated white leghorn chicken embryo
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2007): Light and electron microscope studies of effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on preincubated chick embryo
Yao K et al. (2007): Absence of effect of power-frequency magnetic fields exposure on mouse embryonic lens development
Komazaki S et al. (2007): Induction of increase in intracellular calcium concentration of embryonic cells and acceleration of morphogenetic cell movements during amphibian gastrulation by a 50-Hz magnetic field
Bastide M et al. (2001): Toxicologic study of electromagnetic radiation emitted by television and video display screens and cellular telephones on chickens and mice
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2000): Teratogenic effects of sinusoidal extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on morphology of 24 hr chick embryos
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2000): Teratogenic effects on morphology and skeletal structure of chick embryos after exposure to 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields
Veicsteinas A et al. (1996): Development of chicken embryos exposed to an intermittent horizontal sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic field
Jenrow KA et al. (1996): Weak extremely-low-frequency magnetic field-induced regeneration anomalies in the planarian Dugesia tigrina
Ubeda A et al. (1994): Chick embryo development can be irreversibly altered by early exposure to weak extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields
Cameron IL et al. (1993): Environmental magnetic fields: influences on early embryogenesis
Handcock MS et al. (1992): Statistical review of the henhouse experiments: the effects of a pulsed magnetic field on chick embryos
Berman E et al. (1990): Development of chicken embryos in a pulsed magnetic field
Maffeo S et al. (1988): Weak low frequency electromagnetic fields and chick embryogenesis: failure to reproduce positive findings
Sandström M et al. (1987): Effects of weak pulsed magnetic fields on chick embryogenesis
Juutilainen J et al. (1986): Effects of 100-Hz magnetic fields with various waveforms on the development of chick embryos
Maffeo S et al. (1984): Lack of effect of weak low frequency electromagnetic fields on chick embryogenesis
Ubeda A et al. (1983): Pulse shape of magnetic fields influences chick embryogenesis