Effects of 60-Hz electric fields on embryo and chick development, growth, and behavior. Final report
The objective of this study was to utilize an avian model to determine the effects of 60-Hz electric fields on embryo and chick development. A specially designed incubator allowed simultaneous incubation of control eggs and eggs exposed to 60-Hz electric fields. Two series of experimental voltages were utilized for this study. In Series 1, the subject eggs were exposed to 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kV/m fields and, in Series 2, eggs were exposed to 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 kV/m. Data were collected on mortality, malformation, and growth (weight) of 7- and 14-day-old embryos after continuous exposure to electric fields. Eggs were also incubated, exposed to electric fields, and hatched in order to collect data on chick weights at one day and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after hatching. Behavior tests on newly hatched chicks that had been exposed to electric fields during development were also performed. The results indicated no consistent effect of 60-Hz electric fields, varying from 0.1 to 100 kV/m, on mortality, malformations, weights, bone growth (metatarsal length), or behavior of embryos or chicks. This study strongly suggests that within the scope of this project, there is no consistent direct effect of 60 Hz electric fields on the health and well-being of avian embryos. A dose-response analysis was also utilized in which all the data in each series, for each age of the embryos, were simultaneously evaluated in a statistical model. This analysis demonstrated that there is no significant dose-response of electric fields on 7- and 14-day-old embryo and 1-day-old chick weights. 24 refs., 21 figs., 56 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Advanced Systems Technology Div.
- OSTI ID:
- 5473522
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-EA-4161; ON: TI85920222
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BEHAVIOR
CHICKENS
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EGGS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MORTALITY
ONTOGENESIS
ANIMALS
BIRDS
DATA
FOWL
INFORMATION
MALFORMATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
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