Cardiovascular response of rats exposed to 60-Hz electric fields

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250010106· OSTI ID:5627021

Hilton, D I; Phillips, R D

Recently, it has been reported that exposure to high-strength electric fields can influence electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns, heart rates, and blood pressures in various species of animals. Our studies were designed to evaluate these reported effects and to help clarify some of the disagreement present in the literature. Various cardiovascular variables were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed or sham-exposed to 60-Hz electric fields at 80 to 100 kV/m for periods up to four months. No significant differences in heart rates, ECG patterns, blood pressures, or vascular reactivity were observed between exposed and sham-exposed rats after 8 hours, 40 hours, 1 month, or 4 months of exposure. Our studies cannot be directly compared to the work of other investigators because of differences in animal species and electric-field characteristics. However, our failure to detect any cardiovascular changes may have been the result of (1) eliminating secondary field effects such as shocks, audible noise, corona, and ozone; (2) minimizing steady-state microcurrents between the mouth of the animal and watering devices; and (3) minimizing electric-field-induced vibration of the electrodes and animal cages.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5627021
• Journal Information: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN BLCTD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD PRESSURE
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DIAGRAMS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS
FREQUENCY RANGE
HZ RANGE
MAMMALS
PHYSIOLOGY
RATS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES