Long-term (up to 20 years) effects of 50-Hz magnetic field exposure on blood chemistry parameters in healthy men

ObjectivesThe potential effects of a chronic exposure to magnetic fields on blood chemistry in humanswere tested.DesignWe examined the nocturnal profiles and levels of the following blood parameters: electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus), nonprotein nitrogenous compounds (uric acid, urea, creatinine), and glucose, in 15 men (38.0 ± 0.9 years) exposed chronically and daily for a period of 1 - 20 years, in the workplace and at home, to a 50-Hz magnetic field in search of any cumulative effect from those chronic conditions of exposure. The weekly geometric mean of individual exposures ranged from 0.1 to 2.6 μT. The results are compared to those obtained in our control group: 15 unexposed men of similar age (39.4 ± 1.2 years), with the same synchronization and physical activity that served as controls (individual exposures ranged from 0.004 to 0.092 μT). Blood samples were taken hourly from 20:00 h to 08:00 h.ResultsThis work shows that subjects exposed over a long period (up to 20 years) and on a daily basis to magnetic fields experienced significant changes in serum sodium, chloride, phosphorus and glucose where an effect for field-hour interaction was noted for exposures greater than 0.3 μT.ConclusionOur data suggest that long-term exposure to 50-Hzmagnetic fields (exposure > 0.3 μT) in healthy men could induce some biological modifications of certain blood parameters, though their clinical relevance needs further investigation.

► We tested the effects of chronic exposure to 50-Hz magnetic fields on 15 men exposed up to 20 years.
► The subjeects were exposed both during their work and at home since they lived in the substations.
► We found changes in some biological variables (Na, Cl, P, glucose) in subjects exposed to more than 0.3 MicroTesla.