THANAA E. SHALABY, M. M. SHAWKI

Biophysics Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt

Abstract. The present work is devoted to study the effect of exposing experimental male albino rats to a combined static and extremely low frequency (ELF) alternating magnetic fields of average intensity 3 mT, to evaluate the risk on human workers who occupationally exposed to similar fields. A total of thirty male albino rats were equally divided into three groups, A, B, and C. Group A served as control group. Group B was exposed to static and extremely low frequency magnetic fields of 3mT, 8 hours/day for two successive weeks. Group C was exposed to the same condition as group B for four successive weeks. Osmotic fragility of RBCs, dielectric dispersion of hemoglobin (Hb) at frequency range of 12–105 Hz, Hb absorption, Hb electrophoresis, plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), aspirate transaminase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and red blood cells (RBCs) Catalase activity were carried out for all groups. The results indicated that, exposure of animals to MFs of 3 mT, result in increase in RBCs osmotic fragility and decrease in its membrane elasticity, a partial change in Hb molecular structure without change in electrophoretic band of Hb, increase in ALT and AST levels in plasma indicating some damage in liver cell membrane. The increase in MDA level and catalase activity indicates an increase in free radicals level.

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