Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

An Investigation Into the Effects of Long-Term 50-Hz Power-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure on Hematogram, Blood Chemistry, Fibrosis, and Oxidant Stress Status in the Liver and the Kidney From Sprague-Dawley Rats med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2020; 41 (7): 511-525

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of a chronic exposure of rats to a 50 Hz magnetic field on parameters in blood, kidneys and liver should be investigated.

Background/further details

Rats were divided into the following groups (n=30, respectively): 1) exposure to a 30 µT magnetic field, 2) exposure to a 100 µT magnetic field, 3) exposure to a 500 µT magnetic field, 4) sham exposure.
30 μT is the common magnetic flux density of the 50‐Hz magnetic field emitted by transmission lines in China (Repacholi and Greenebaum, 1999). According to the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), 100 μT is the limit value for general public exposure and 500 μT is the limit value occupational exposure (ICNIRP, 1998).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 20 hours/day for 24 weeks
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 20 hours/day for 24 weeks
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 20 hours/day for 24 weeks

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 20 hours/day for 24 weeks
Exposure setup
Chamber animals were housed in controlled environmental conditions (23±2°C, 60% ± 5% humidity and 12 h dark/12 h light cycle) in polycarbonate ventilated cages (45 x 20 × 35 cm, L × W × H)
Setup there were five layers in the exposure device (200 × 70 × 200 cm, L × W× H); a plastic rack (exposure area, 140 × 70 × 200 cm, L × W × H) with four floors was placed inside the exposure device; horizontal bronze wires were used to produce a homogeneous vertical magnetic field; the wires were fixed tightly to the framework to decrease vibration and noise
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info two exposure systems were constructed, one used for exposure and another used for sham exposure; the two systems were located in separate, nonadjacent rooms, which had the same conditions and contained no other electrical devices (e.g., computers)
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 100 µT spatial average measured and calculated - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 20 hours/day for 24 weeks
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 300 µT spatial average measured and calculated - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 20 hours/day for 24 weeks
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 500 µT spatial average measured and calculated - -

Reference articles

  • Ruan G et al. (2019): Power-frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz do not affect fertility and development in rats and mice
  • Wang Y et al. (2019): Exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field at 100 µT exerts no DNA damage in cardiomyocytes

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant differences were found between the groups.
The authors conclude that there were no indications for an effect of chronic exposure of rats to a 50 Hz magnetic field on parameters in blood, kidneys and liver.

Study character:

Study funded by

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