Effects of electromagnetic fields produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations on the immune system of women

The object of this study was to investigate the immune system of 19 women with a mean age of 35 years, for at least 2 years Žmean 13 years. exposed to electromagnetic fields ŽELMFs. induced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations in their residential area. In September 1999, the ELMFs Žwith range 500 KHz 3 GHz. in the balconies of the homes of the women were Žmean S.D.. 4.3 1.4 V m. Forty-seven women of similar age, smoking habits and atopy composed the control group, with a nearby resident ELMF exposure of 1.8 V m. Blood lead and urinary trans trans muconic acid Ža metabolite of benzene., markers of exposure to urban traffic, were higher in the control women. The ELMF exposed group showed a statistically significant reduction of blood NK CD16 -CD56 , cytotoxic CD3 -CD8 , B and NK activated CD3 HLA-DR and CD3 -CD25 lymphocytes. ‘In vitro’ production of IL-2 and interferon- ŽINF- . by peripheral blood mononuclear cells ŽPBMC. of the ELMF exposed group, incubated either with or without phytohaemoagglutinin ŽPHA., was significantly lower; the ‘in vitro’ production of IL-2 was significantly correlated with blood CD16 -CD56 lymphocytes. The stimulation index ŽS.I.. of blastogenesis Žratio between cell proliferation with and without PHA. of PBMC of ELMF exposed women was lower than that of the control subjects. The S.I. of blastogenesis of the ELMF exposed group Žbut not blood NK lymphocytes and the ‘in vitro’ production of IL-2 and INF- by PBMC. was significantly correlated with the ELMF levels. Blood lead and