Can 50 Hz magnetic fields alter iron metabolism and induce anaemia?

Purpose: Some changes in tissue iron concentration have been reported in an imals exposed to electromagnetic fields. In other studies, variations in th e haemoglobin level were occasionally observed. In the present experiment, the effects of exposing a rat to a 50 Hz magnetic field (MF) were therefore investigated for the possible induction of anaemia due to changes in iron metabolism. Materials and methods: Male Brown Norway rats (n = 225) were exposed to a s inusoidal 50 Hz MF of 500 muT for 15 weeks. Haematological parameters, diff erential bone marrow cell counts and sideroblasts were investigated. Blood parameters of iron metabolism were measured. Iron concentration and total i ron content were also determined in the spleen and liver, to assess iron st orage in these organs. Results: Significant differences between the exposed and control rat were o nly detected for iron storage in the spleen, and for the percentage of bone marrow cells of the red cell lineage. Conclusion: The changes observed were not associated with anaemia during th e 15 weeks of MF exposure. However, the decrease in bone marrow cells of th e red cell lineage and the changes in iron storage detected at the end of t he experiment did not allow the possibility to be ruled out that exposure t o 50 Hz MFs may induced delayed biological effects.