Effects of exposure to 50Hz or 20kHz [corrected] magnetic fields on weights of body and some organs of CBA mice.

Males from mouse litters exposed to 50Hz magnetic fields (MF) during the fetal stages right up to 280 days of age, showed a significantly lower body weight as well as kidney and liver weights compared with control animals. These results were not found in females. Adult mice exposed to MF for 140 days showed a significantly lower growth. Similar effects were seen in younger male mice exposed for 60 days. After 90 days exposure kidney and liver weights were significantly lower than controls. Young male mice exposed only for a few days showed a trend towards decreased body weight compared with controls. Using a 20kHz MF, young male mice showed the opposite pattern after 60 days of exposure. In conclusion, we found that the effects depended on exposure time. Young mice and males were found to be more sensitive. Finally, the effects were larger at 50 Hz than at 20 kHz.