Exposure of rhesus monkeys to 20 000 G steady magnetic field: effect on blood parameters

Sixteen monkeys were used in a study to determine the effects, or noneffects, of exposure to a steady magnetic field of 2 T (20 000 G). Arterial and venous blood samples were taken before, immediately after, and several weeks following the test. Blood gas analyses were made of arterial samples, and hemotologic cell data and Technicon SMAC analyses were made of venous samples. Differential and absolute white blood cell counts of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes were considerably changed during the test, even for monkeys which were not exposed to the magnetic field. These changes have also been observed in monkeys whose environment and daily routine are modified appreciably. Eight of the 16 monkeys were tested twice: first, in the magnet with the magnet turned on, and second, two months later, in the magnet, but with the magnet turned off. A large superconducting magnet (0.63 m i. d. and 1.85 m long warm-air bore) was used, which accommodated two monkeys at one time. Paired-t tests of 45 blood parameters showed no significant differences between the two tests. Exposure to a gradient field compared with exposure to a uniform magnetic field showed no significant differences.