Abstract

Overview

Power-frequency electromagnetic fields (PF-EMFs) at 50 Hz are acknowledged as potential health risk factors. This study was aimed at exploring the impact of long-term exposure to these fields on general physiological conditions in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Findings

• Throughout a 24-week exposure period, body mass, and water and food intake of the animals were monitored regularly.
• Hematologic parameters were examined every 12 weeks, while blood chemistry analyses were conducted every 4 weeks.
• Post-mortem morphological assessments via hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and immunohistochemical staining were completed.
• No significant changes were observed in body mass, food and water intake, hemograms, blood chemistry, or morphology of the liver or kidney due to PF-EMF exposure.
• Fibrosis-related gene expression and oxidative stress status remained unchanged.

Conclusion

The study indicates that 24 weeks of exposure to PF-EMFs at intensities of 30, 100, or 500 μT may not influence hemograms, blood chemistry, fibrosis, or oxidative stress in the liver or kidney of SD rats, highlighting a lack of significant health risks under these specific conditions.