EVIDENCE OF IMMUNE STIMULATION FOLLOWING SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE TO SPECIFIC EXTREMELY LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) interact with immune cells. Even more evident is that immune cells are activated when exposed to these fields for a short period. Signal specificity and dosimetry appear to play a role. In this study, four groups of laboratory mice received daily exposure to a specific electromagnetic field with an intensity of 5μT for one hour, four hours and twenty-four hours (continuously) respectively for a period of seven days. The control group received no exposure and was used as standard for comparison. Following exposure, whole blood was analysed for leukocyte count, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19 analysis. The results for the twenty-four hour exposure group indicated increased total leukocyte, lymphocyte, CD3 and CD4 values and a decreased neutrophil values. These findings provide evidence that the immune system is indeed stimulated by exposure to EMFs.