Hemato-biochemical and immunotoxicological effects of low electromagnetic field and its interaction with lead acetate in mice

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and lead acetate on some hemato-biochemical, immune and pathologic variables in mice. A total 120 female mice were equally divided into eight groups. Gp. 1 kept as control. Gp. 2 exposed to EMF of 2 millitesla intensity and 50 Hz frequency (4h/day) for 30 days. Gps. 3, 4 and 5 were administered lead acetate orally at various doses (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg BW) for 30 days. The last 3 groups (6, 7 and 8) were exposed to EMF- lead combination for the same period. EMF- exposure, for 4h/day during 30 consecutive days, induced a significant increase in the erythrogram, leukogram and platelet counts, compared to control. Anemia, leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia were recorded with oral administration of lead acetate at various doses. The severity of changes was dose related. The phagocytosis % and phagocytic index were significantly (P<0.05) increased in mice exposed to EMF for 30 days (gp.2) but decreased in those given high doses of lead acetate. However, the immune parameters were insignificantly changed in groups 3, 7 and 8. Comparing to unexposed mice, significant variations in biochemical parameters (glucose, enzymes, and protein profiles) were noticed. Lead-EMF combination had synergistic effect on some previous parameters, whereas mice given the highest dose of lead with EMF aggravated hematobiochemical and pathological findings. We concluded that the combined EMF and lead acetate- exposure produced severe changes in the hemato-biochemical and immune parameters which were both real and inconsistent.