Biological effects of high strength electric fields on small laboratory animals. Interim progress report, March 9, 1976--September 8, 1976

Abstract

Voltage of 5.0 kV 24 II. Calibration Data for the Surface Electric Field Probe 32 III. DC Resistivities and AC Resistances per Inch of 1/4-inch Diameter Polyethylene Water Line 51 IV. Daily Body Weight Gain, Food Consumption and Water Consumption of Rats (N=5/group) Housed for 4 Days in Standard Cages with 7-in. or with 4-in. High Ceilings 64 V. Average Daily Body Weight Gain, Food Consumption and Water Consumption of Rats (N=10/group) Individually Housed for 30 Days in Standard Cages with 7-in. or 4-in. High Ceilings 64 VI. Hematologic Profiles and Adrenal Weights of Rats Housed for 30 Days in Standard Cages or Cages with the Ceiling Height Lowered to 4-in 65 VII. Mean Oxygen Consumption Rates, Carbon Dioxide Production Rates and Respiratory Quotients of Two Groups of Rats (N=5/group) Per Unit Body Mass After 9 Days of Acclimation in a Bollman Holder or a Lucite Tube 78

Comparison of the coupling of grounded humans, swine and rats to vertical, 60‐Hz electric fields

“…The results of one experiment in which swine were exposed to vertical 60-Hz electric fields have been reported [Phillips et al, 1976;Kaune et al, 19781 , The short-circuit current of a 60-kg miniature swine exposed to a unperturbed vertical electric field E,, is I,, = (7 pA-m/kV)E,. The surface field at the top of a swine's back is enhanced over E, by a factor of 7.…”

“…Estimates show that the electric fields induced within the body of a man or animal exposed to a 60-Hz electric field are much smaller than the fields outside the body [Barnes et al, 1967;Phillips et al, 1976;Sheppard and Eisenbud, 19771. This is true because the applied electric field is almost completely cancelled, inside the body, by a second field whose source is electric charge which has moved to, or very near, the surface of the body [Reitz and Milford, 19601 .…”

“…Published theoretical estimates indicate that the actual fields to which a subject is exposed -the fields at the exterior surface and inside the body -are different from the unperturbed field and depend on body shape [Barnes et al, 1967;Schneider et al, 1974;Deno, 1977;Sheppard and We will treat the case of a subject (human or animal) standing on and in electrical contact with a ground plane (eg, the earth's surface) and exposed to an unperturbed electric field which is uniform and vertical. The reasons for the selection of this configuration are: 1) questions have been raised about possible biological effects resulting from exposure of humans or other animals to 60-Hz electric fields produced by high-voltage transmission lines [Sheppard and Eisenbud, 1977;Phillips and Kaune, 19771 , where the unperturbed ground-level fields are approximately vertical and uniform [Poznaniak et al, 1977;Deno, 19781 ; 2) while humans standing on the ground may or may not be grounded [EPRI, 1975;Bracken, 19761 , calculations show that the greatest fields and currents are induced in the body when the subject is grounded [Spiegel, 1977;DlPlacido et al, 19781 ; 3) laboratory animals are commonly exposed to this field configuration to simulate transmission-line fields and with their bodies grounded to minimize possible electric-shock artifacts during exposure [Phillips et al, 1976;Kaune et al, 1978;Phillips et al, 19781.…”

Effects of 60‐Hz electric fields on avoidance behavior and activity of rats

“…Exposure to electric fields has been reported to increase activity of mice [Moos, 19641, to reduce the growth rate of rats and rabbits [LeBars and Andre, 19761, to produce transitory changes in white blood cell counts of rats [Blanchi et al, 19701 and to result in lower body mass and lower corticosterone levels of rats [Marino et al, 19761. Other investigators have not substantiated these reported effects [Smith et al, 1979;Phillips et al, 1978;Phillips et al, 1979; see also reviews by Sheppard and Eisenbud, 1977;Bridges, 1978;Miller et al, 19771.…”

A behavioral response of swine to a 60‐Hz electric field

“…Direct interaction involves only the field and the animal, whereas indirect modes include electrical discharges and steady-state currents when the subject touches a conducting object [Kaune et al, 19801, low-frequency hum from the electrical system [EPRI, 1975;Bridges, 19781, noise or ozone generated by corona discharge [EPRI, 1975;Bridges, 19781, and electric field-induced vibration of an object the subject is touching. Biological responses to direct modes of interaction result from electric field-induced oscillation of a subject's hair Phillips et al, 1976;Deno, 19781 and perception of the electric field [Hjeresen et al, 1980;Bayer et al, 1977;Graves et al, 19781, either by hair oscillation or another unidentified mechanism. Data are presented showing that indirect modes of interaction have been minimized in this study, and that our behavioral results may be attributed to a direct interaction between the swine and the electric field.…”