Influence of 45-Hz Vertical Electric Fields on Growth, Food and Water Consumption, and Blood Constituents of Rats

Young male rats were exposed to 45-Hz, vertical, electric fields in nonmetallic cages during four experiments. In each of three experiments, six groups of 16 animals were exposed to field strengths of 0, 2, 10, 20, 50, and 100 V/m for 28 days. In the fourth 28-day experiment, 48 animals were exposed to 20 V/m and 48 were controls. Statistical analysis reveals no consistently reproducible differences (P < 0.05) between controls and irradiated animals in growth, food consumption, or water consumption. Further, no consistent, reproducible differences (P < 0.05) are found for serum or plasma concentrations of total protein, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipids, or the constituents of a complete blood count. In addition, necropsy and histopathological examination of tissue from 16 organs failed to reveal any changes that could be attributed to ELF electric fields.