A review of the literature on potential reproductive and developmental toxicity of electric and magnetic fields.

The potential of electric and magnetic fields to adversely affect the health of the human population is an issue which continues to receive a great deal of attention in both public and scientific forums. One of the critical issues is the possibility that such fields may adversely affect the reproductive process. Numerous studies investigating the potential of electric and/or magnetic fields to alter reproduction in vertebrates have been conducted. These studies have, in many instances, yielded seemingly contradictory results. A number of epidemiological studies have been conducted as well. This review of the literature examines relevant studies and attempts to draw biologically rational conclusions from them. The studies are ordered in broad categories based upon both classification of the species studied (i.e. submammalian, mammalian exclusive of man and human) and the agent used (i.e. extremely low frequency electric, very low frequency electric, and magnetic fields). From our review we conclude that laboratory experimental and epidemiological results to date have not yielded conclusive data to support the contention that such fields induce adverse reproductive effects under the test or environmental conditions studied. Additional studies may, however, be warranted to clarify some of the experimental results obtained.