Effect of electromagnetic field generated by BTS on hematological parameters and cellular composition of bone marrow in rat

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), produced by mobile base stations on hematological parameters and cellular composition of bone marrow in mature and immature rats. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats (20 adult and 20 immature) were divided into four equal groups, control and test. Test groups were exposed to EMF, 5 h a day for 70 days. Blood was collected by heart puncture. Bone marrow aspirations were obtained from the femur of all animals. Exposure to EMF generated by a base transceiver station (BTS) significantly decreased hematocrit (PCV), total leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet count in the immature–test group. In contrast, MCV in the immature–test group increased significantly compared with the immature–control group (P < 0.05). Exposure to EMF generated by BTS had no significant effect on hematological parameters in mature rats. Exposure to EMF generated by BTS had significant effect on bone marrow composition in mature and immature rats. Polychromatophilic rubricyte in mature and immature–test groups increased significantly compared with their respective control groups. Myeloblast and myelocyte in the mature–test group decreased significantly compared with its control group (P < 0.05). However, in the immature–test group, myeloblast, myelocyte, band neutrophil and donate cells decreased significantly compared with the control–immature group (P < 0.05). In summary, these results suggest that exposure to EMF generated by mobile base stations has a deleterious effect on hematological parameters and bone marrow composition and that this effect is more severe in immature animals.