An investigation into possible chromosome damaging effects of ultrasound on human blood cells

Abstract

Macintosh and Davey (1970) have reported that after exposure of human peripheral blood cultures to ultrasound an increase in the number of chromosome aberrations was found. The experiments described are an attempt to confirm the observations under more rigorously controlled conditions. Human peripheral blood was exposed to 1 MHz ultrasonic waves for one hour at intensities of 30 mWcm−2, 300 mWcm−2 and 3 Wcm−2. Both whole blood before culture and blood cultures were treated in Pyrex vessels, the temperature being maintained at 37°C throughout the experiment. No increase in chromosome or chromatid aberrations over those found in controls was observed.