Biological effects of continuous exposure of embryos and young chickens to electromagnetic fields emitted by video...

The effects of continuous exposure of embryos and young chickens to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by video display units (VDUs) were investigated. Embryos and brood were continuously exposed during embryonic and postembryonic phases to EMFs emitted by two types of VDU (TV or computer). Embryonic mortality was evaluated in three independent experiments. Young chickens were immunized three times by porcine thyroglobulin (Tg). Blood samples were assayed after each immunization for specific anti-Tg antibodies (IgG), plasma corticosterone (CORT), and plasma melatonin (MLT). In the sham-exposed samples, embryonic death (10-33%) was restricted to the perinatal period and the IgG, CORT, and MLT responses of young chickens crested after the second immunization. Constant EMF exposure was accompanied by significantly increased fetal loss (47-68%) and markedly depressed levels of circulating anti-Tg IgG, CORT, and MLT. Collectively, these findings indicate that continuous exposure to EMFs, issuing from VDUs, adversely affects embryos and young chickens.