To study possible harmful effects of power frequency electromagnetic fields on thyroid gland structure in 8-week-old male rats (n=15) exposed to electromagnetic fields for a period of 4 weeks.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
repeated daily exposure, 4 h/day, 5 days a week for 1 month
|
|
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Waveform |
|
| Exposure duration | repeated daily exposure, 4 h/day, 5 days a week for 1 month |
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Distance between exposed object and exposure source | 12 cm |
| Setup | Cages were placed on both sides of the coil, perpendicular to the coil axis and were covered with plastic lid. The coil axis was parallel to the lines of the force of the geomagnetic field. The electromagnetic field produced by the coil was in horizontal direction with respect to geomagnetic field and was inhomogeneous with decaying intensity along the cage. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electric field strength | 160 V/m | unspecified | measured | - | on the side of the cage near the coil |
| magnetic flux density | 300 µT | unspecified | measured | - | on the side of the cage near the coil |
| magnetic flux density | 100 µT | unspecified | measured | - | at the opposite end of the cage away from coil |
| electric field strength | 54 V/m | unspecified | measured | - | at the opposite end of the cage away from coil |
| magnetic flux density | 40 µT | unspecified | measured | - | geomagnetic field in north-south direction d: Erdmagnetfeld in Nord-Sü |
The data demonstrated the stimulative effect of a power frequency electromagnetic fields on the thyroid gland.
For example, a predominance of microfollicles with less colloid content and dilated blood capillaries was found in the exposed group. Stereological counting showed a statistically significant increase of the volume density of follicular epithelium, interfollicular tissue and blood capillaries as well as the thyroid activation index, as compared to the controls. Alterations in lysosomes, granular endoplasmic reticulum and cell nuclei compared to the control group were also observed.
Although the structural alterations in the thyroid gland were not so severe as to point to a hazardous effect, they are important in the light of a possible thyroid sensitivity to 50·Hz electromagnetic fields.
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