Initial studies on the effects of combined 60 Hz electric and magnetic field exposure on the immune system of nonhuman primates

In a pilot immunology experiment, peripheral blood samples from six baboons (Papio cynocephalus) housed as a social group were collected during week 5 of preexposure, exposure, and postexposure periods that were each 6 weeks in duration. The subjects were exposed to vertical 6 kV/m and horizontal 50 microT (0.5 G) fields for 12 h per day. Lymphocytes collected during the exposure period displayed statistically significant (p < .05) reductions in CD3+ and CD4+ counts, interleukin 2 receptor expression, and proliferative response to pokeweed mitogen. A second experiment was conducted using samples from seven subjects exposed to 30 kV/m and 100 microT (1.0 G) and eight sham-exposed subjects. Statistically significant Period x Group interactions occurred for total white blood cell count and CD4+ to CD8+ ratio, but the pattern of results was not suggestive of an exposure-related effect. Although components of the nonhuman primate immune system appear to be affected by 60 Hz electric and magnetic field exposure in one of two experiments, additional experiments are required to evaluate this possibility.