Effect of Electromagnetic Field on Serum Biochemical Parameters in Steelworkers: Boguslaw KULA, et al. Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Medical University of Silesia—The aim of the study was to evaluate some biochemical parameters in the serum of steelworkers exposed to electromagnetic field (electric field strength of 20 V/m and magnetic field strength of 2 A/m) generated by induction heaters. We found significant decreases in the levels of total protein, β-and γ-globulins, and in the activities of γglutamyltranspeptidase (E.C.2.3.2.2) and malate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.37). The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1) decreased, but the activity of alanine aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.2) was unchanged. Total lipid, cholesterol, triglycerides and pre-β-lipoproteins decreased, but α-lipoproteins increased. The most pronounced changes in the biochemical parameters studied were found in workers with the longest exposure to an electromagnetic field.

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Effects of Electromagnetic Field on Free‐ Radical Processes in Steelworkers. Part I: Magnetic Field Influence on the Antioxidant Activity in Red Blood Cells and Plasma: Bogusfaw Kula, et al. Department of Experimental and Clinical Biochemistry, Silesian School of Medicine, Poland—The purpose of the study was the evaluation of electromagnetic field (electric field strength of 20 V/ m, f=50 Hz and magnetic field strength of 2 A/m, f=50 Hz) effects on the antioxydative activity in steelworkers’ red blood cells and plasma. The plasma GSH‐Px (EC 1.11.1.9) activity, MDA and ceruloplasmin levels as well as SOD (EC 1.15.1.1.), CAT (EC 1.11.1.6) and GSH‐ Px (EC 1.11.1.9) in red blood cells were measured. Statistically significant decreases in red blood cells SOD and GSH‐Px activities, a CAT activity increase and plasma MDA increase and a ceruloplasmin decrease were found in workers exposed for 3‐10 yr and for longer than 10 yr to electromagnetic fields. No statistically significant changes in the parameters evaluated were found among steelworkers employed for shorter than 3 yr. All changes observed among workers exposed to electromagnetic fields result in adaptative responses by activating systems controlling the balance of body oxidative mechanisms.

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Effects of Electromagnetic Field on Free‐ Radical Processes in Steelworkers. Part II: Magnetic Field Influence on Vitamin A, E and Selenium Concentrations in Plasma: Andrzej Sobczak, et al. Department of General and Analytical Chemistry, Silesian School of Medicine, Poland—The aim of the study was the evaluation of the influence of electromagnetic fields (electric field strength of 20 V/m, f=50 Hz and magnetic field strength of 2 A/m, f=50 Hz) on the concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin E (a‐ and y‐tocopherol), and selenium, which represent non‐enzymatic antioxidants, in the plasma of steelworkers exposed to such a field. The cohort was divided into 3 study groups: group 1, workers employed for less than 3 yr; group 2, employed for 3‐ 10 yr; and group 3, employed for more than 10 years. Analysis of the results obtained revealed a statistically significant decrease in plasma vitamin A, α‐, and γ‐ tocopherol concentrations in the study groups as well as a marked increase in plasma selenium concentrations in groups 2 and 3. These changes suggest that the electromagnetic fields studied cause an increase in free‐radical process activity in steelworkers.

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