Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Teratogenic effects on morphology and skeletal structure of chick embryos after exposure to 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields med./bio.

By: Shams Lahijani M, Rajabi Moham H

Published in: Iran J Sci Technol 2000; 24 (2): 173-182

Journal partially peer-reviewed/peer-review process unclear

Journal

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The aims of the study were 1) to determine the extent of effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields exposure (1.33-7.32 mT) on morphology and skeletal structure of chick embryos after 24 h of exposure and 2) to examine whether these biological effects were window effects or dose effects during the first 24 hours of incubation.

Background/further details

301 fresh fertilized eggs were divided into 17 groups: 15 exposure groups (1.33-7.32 mT, n = 9-16), one sham exposed group (n = 33) and control groups (n = 48-55). After 24 h exposure, the exposed and sham exposed eggs were incubated for 8 days. Control eggs were incubated for 9 days (at the end of this period the embryos were removed from their shells and investigated).

Endpoint

effects on embryo/fetus: teratogenic effects

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

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

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 24 hr

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	42 cm long cylindrical coil with an inner diameter of 9.6 cm and an outer diameter of 11.5 cm, consisting of 980 turns of 2.5 mm enameled copper wire, placed inside a temperature-controlled incubator
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

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

Exposed system:

animal
chicken embryos/White Leghorn (eggs)
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on embryo/fetus: teratogenic effects (abnormalities of eyes, ears, CNS, beak, tail, limbs, skeleton (Alizarin red S and Alcian blue stain); crown-rump and beak-occipital length, eggs and embryos weights)

Investigated system:

embryos (dead and alive)

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

All of the 15 electromagnetic field exposed groups showed an increase in the percentage of abnormalities (e.g. anencephaly, exencephaly, anophthalmia, crossed beak, gastroschisis, anuria, extra or abnormal vertebrae and ribs) compared with sham exposed and control embryos. These effects were significant in the exposure groups of 2.76, 4.14, 5.32 and 6.9 mT magnetic flux densities. The egg weights on day 9 showed no significant difference between control group and electromagnetic field exposed groups; lengths of crown-rump and beak-occipital showed no significant difference in crown-rump but there was a significant increase in beak-occipital lenth at 2.76 mT magnetic flux density; a significant decrease in embryos' weight at 7.32 mT magnetic flux density was also found.
The data revealed that 50 Hz sinusoidal extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (with magnetic flux densities of 1.33-7.32 mT) can induce irreversible developmental changes during 24 h exposure. The findings also confirm that there are window effects.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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Shams Lahijani M et al. (2004): Development of preincubated chicken eggs following exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields with 1.33-7.32 mT flux densities
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
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