RETARDATION OF EMBRYOGENESIS BY EXTREMELY LOW-FREQUENCY 60-HZ ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (1) , 135-138
Abstract
Fertilized Medaka fish eggs were used to determine if electromagnetic fields, designed to simulate those beneath a high voltage power line, have biological effects on vertebrate embryo development. The newly fertilized eggs were exposed to a 60 Hz electrical field of 300 mA/M2 current density, a 60 Hz magnetic field of 1.0 gauss RMS [root mean squared] or to the combined electric plus magnetic fields for 48 h. No gross abnormalities were observed in any of the embryos as they developed, but significant development delays were seen in those embryos exposed to either the magnetic or to the combined electromagnetic fields; delays were unseen in the embryos exposed to the electrical field. A 60 Hz magnetic field like that encountered in a man made powerline environment retarded development of fish embryos.