title: A system for simultaneous exposure of small animals to 60-Hz electric and magnetic fields.
abstract: Equipment designed for simultaneous exposure of rodents to 60-Hz electric and magnetic fields is described. Three identical systems were constructed, each capable of continuous exposure of 256 rats or 640 mice to a nominal electric field at less than 50 kV/m, and to horizontal and vertical magnetic fields at less than 1 mT. Design features, construction details, and results of various tests of the systems are described. Tests were made: of phase relations between electric and magnetic fields; of uniformity of electric and magnetic fields; of changes across time in electric-field intensity as a result of animals' soiling of cages and various washing routines; of resistance of bedding material during humid and dry conditions; and of acoustic noise due to background, to field-generation equipment, and to air conditioning equipment. The results demonstrated that fields were effectively generated but that significant and troublesome changes in electric-field intensity occurred because of cage-soiling. However, when cages were frequently cleaned, field intensities were consistent from one exposure to another.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973-5000.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kuehner
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Benz
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carsten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012107:Research Design