Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Vertical Electric Field Exposure of Rats: Irradiation Facility

Abstract : An extremely low frequency (ELF) vertical, electric field irradiation facility consisting of six identical exposure chambers is described. This facility simulates the vertical electric field radiated from the U. S. Navy's proposed ELF Communications System, designed to establish worldwide communication with our submarine fleet. This irradiation facility is designed to study the possible bioeffects of ELF on 96 rats equally divided among the six exposure chambers and individually housed in specially modified nonmetallic cages. These cages are designed to minimally perturb the exposure field and provide accurate means to measure food and water consumption. Each exposure chamber can be independently operated up to field strengths of 1000 V/m (RMS) at any sinusoidal ELF frequency. At 45 Hz, the frequency chosen for this research, chamber cross talk is less than -60 dB and the vertical electric field uniformity within the exposure area is + or - 5 percent. A complete description of the ambient 60-Hz electric and magnetic fields is presented. Project was sponsored by the U. S. Naval Medical Research and Development Command, contract number XSB09.