TY - JOUR
T1 - Immune Markers and Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity among Electric Utility Workers
AU - Ichinose, Travers Y.
AU - Burch, James B.
AU - Noonan, Curtis W.
AU - Yost, Michael G.
AU - Keefe, Thomas J.
AU - Bachand, Annette
AU - Mandeville, Rosemonde
AU - Reif, John S.
PY - 2004/2
Y1 - 2004/2
N2 - The effects of a 60-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure on white blood cell ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, natural killer (NK) cell activity, lymphocyte phenotypes, and differential cell counts were studied among 60 electric utility workers. Personal MF exposure monitoring over 3 consecutive workdays was followed by collection of a peripheral blood sample. There were no MF-related changes in NK activity or the number of circulating neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, or T-lymphocytes (CD4, CD8, CD4:CD8 ratio). MF exposure intensity was associated with decreased ODC activity (P < 0.01) and lower NK cell counts (P = 0.04). Melatonin production, which stimulates the immune system, was quantified on the night preceding immune marker determinations. Exposure-related reductions in ODC activity, NK and B cells, and monocytes were strongest among workers with reduced melatonin production. The biological significance or long-term health consequences associated with these changes are not known.
AB - The effects of a 60-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure on white blood cell ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, natural killer (NK) cell activity, lymphocyte phenotypes, and differential cell counts were studied among 60 electric utility workers. Personal MF exposure monitoring over 3 consecutive workdays was followed by collection of a peripheral blood sample. There were no MF-related changes in NK activity or the number of circulating neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, or T-lymphocytes (CD4, CD8, CD4:CD8 ratio). MF exposure intensity was associated with decreased ODC activity (P < 0.01) and lower NK cell counts (P = 0.04). Melatonin production, which stimulates the immune system, was quantified on the night preceding immune marker determinations. Exposure-related reductions in ODC activity, NK and B cells, and monocytes were strongest among workers with reduced melatonin production. The biological significance or long-term health consequences associated with these changes are not known.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0842331306&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/01.jom.0000111963.64211.3b
DO - 10.1097/01.jom.0000111963.64211.3b
M3 - Article
C2 - 14767213
AN - SCOPUS:0842331306
SN - 1076-2752
VL - 46
SP - 104
EP - 112
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
IS - 2
ER -