Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Chronic toxicity/oncogenicity evaluation of 60 Hz (power frequency) magnetic fields in F344/N rats med./bio.

Published in: Toxicol Pathol 1999; 27 (3): 267-278

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This in vivo study was performed to evaluate possible oncogenic and toxic effects of chronic biennial exposure to an extremely low frequency magnetic field in rats.

Background/further details

Altogether 200 male and 200 female rats were examined.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 18.5 h/day for 2 years (1h on /1h off)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Waveform
Polarization
Exposure duration 18.5 h/day for 2 years (1h on /1h off)
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • 5 identical field generating coil sets, one/room; coil set rectangular solenoid
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT maximum - - -
magnetic flux density 0.2 mT - - - -
magnetic flux density 2 µT minimum - - -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Statistically significant increases in the incidence of C-cell adenomas and carcinomas of the thyroid were seen in male rats chronically exposed to 20 mG and 2 G magnetic fields, but as they only occured at the lowest magnetic flux densities and only in male rats these results were considered to be equivocal.
There was a decrease in leukemia in male rats exposed to 10 G intermittent fields.
Summarized, these results in all indicate no clear evidence of any oncogenic or toxic effect of the exposure to chronic magnetic field.

Study character:

Study funded by

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