Effects of 60 Hz electric fields on operant and social stress behaviors of nonhuman primates

Technical Report · Sat Oct 24 00:00:00 EDT 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6904605· OSTI ID:6904605

Rogers, W R; Coelho, Jr, A M; Easley, S P; Lucas, J H; Moore, G T; Orr, J L; Smith, H D; Taylor, L L; Tuttle, M L

The objective of this program is to investigate, using the baboon as a nonhuman primate surrogate for the human, possible behavioral effects associated with exposure to high intensity 60 Hz electric fields. Results from this program, along with information from experiments conducted elsewhere, will be used by the Department of Energy (DOE) to estimate and evaluate the likelihood of deleterious consequences resulting from exposure of humans to the electric fields associated with power transmission over high voltage lines. This research program consists of four major research projects, all of which have been successfully completed. The first project evaluated the potentially aversive character of exposure to 60 Hz electric fields by determining the threshold intensity that produces escape or avoidance responses. The second project estimated the threshold intensity for detection threshold was 12 kV/m; the range of means was 6 to 16 kV/m. The third project assessed, in separate experiments conducted at 30 and 60 kV/m, effects of chronic exposure to electric fields on the performance of two operant conditioning tasks, fixed ratio (FR), and differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL). In the same two experiments, the fourth project investigated, using the systematic quantitative observational sampling methods of primatology, the possible stress-inducing effects of chronic exposure to 60 Hz electric fields on the behavior of baboons living in small social groups. 131 refs., 87 figs., 123 tabs.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-80RA50219
• OSTI ID: 6904605
• Report Number(s): DOE/RA/50219-T17; ON: DE90012576
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
MAN
HEALTH HAZARDS
AVOIDANCE
BABOONS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BRAIN
EPIDEMIOLOGY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
PINEAL GLAND
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
PROGRESS REPORT
SOCIAL IMPACT
THRESHOLD CURRENT
THRESHOLD DOSE
ANIMALS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COOPERATION
CURRENTS
DATA
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSES
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
GLANDS
HAZARDS
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
MONKEYS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION DOSES
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects