Developmental toxicity evaluation of ELF magnetic fields in Sprague-Dawley rats

To identify possible effects of horizontally polarized magnetic field (MF) exposure on maintenance of pregnancy and embryo‐fetal development, an MF exposure system was designed and constructed and 96 time‐mated female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats (24/group) received continuous exposure to 60 Hz MF at field strengths of 0 (sham control) and 5, 83.3, or 500 μT (50, 833, or 5000 mG). Dams received MF or sham exposures for 22 h/day on gestational day 6–20. MF was monitored continuously throughout the study. There were no evidences of maternal toxicity or developmental toxicity in any MF exposed groups. Mean maternal body weight, organ weights, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters in groups exposed to MF did not differ from those in sham control. No exposure related differences in fetal deaths, fetal body weight, and placental weight were observed between MF exposed groups and sham control. External, visceral, and skeletal examination of fetuses demonstrated no significant differences in the incidence of fetal malformations between MF exposed and sham control groups. In conclusion, exposure of pregnant rats to 60 Hz at MF strengths up to 500 μT during gestation day 6–20 did not produce any biologically significant effect in either dams or fetuses. Bioelectromagnetics 24:231‐240, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.