Occupational exposure to static, ELF, VF and VLF magnetic fields and immune parameters

Despite the important role of the immune system in defending the body against infections and cancer, very few investigations have been undertaken to study possible effects of electromagnetic fields on human immunity. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of occupational exposure on hospital personnel operating magnetic resonance tomographs and on industrial workers at induction heaters. In both categories of workplaces, magnetic flux densities exceeding Austrian exposure standards have been registered. Because of the complexity and high redundancy of the immune system, an extensive range of assay systems was applied: relative and absolute numbers of lymphocytic subsets were counted, the proliferative activity of T and B cells determined, the production of interleukin 2, interferon gamma and tumour necrosis factor alpha analysed, serum immunoglobulins evaluated, as well as non-specific immunity of monocytes and granulocytes measured by their oxidative burst. The number of natural killer cells and oxidative burst in monocytes showed statistically significant differences in workers at induction heaters and controls. The observed effect on oxidative burst was counteracted by a higher number of active cells in the exposed group, indicating normal non-specific immunity. The high number of natural killer cells, observed in some of the study subjects working at induction heaters, was reconfirmed in another investigation and deserves a further follow-up.