In the future, strong magnetic fields will play a greater role in the environment of man. In preparation for this the frontal plane ECG of subhuman primates in strong magnetic fields (100,000 oersted) was recorded. A pulsating electrical signal (flowgram) was found superimposed on the ECG, giving information on mechanical as well as electrical performance of the heart. No influence of the magnetic field on cardiac regulation was observed during short exposure periods. (Author).

The objective of this book is to present in a concise manner what is actually known at the present time about biological effects of time invariant, low frequency and radio frequency (including microwave) electric and magnetic fields. In reviewing the vast amount of experimental data which have been obtained in recent years, the authors tried to select those results that are, in their opinion, of major importance and of lasting value. In discussing mechanisms of interaction of electromagnetic fields with living matter they have tried to differentiate between what is clearly established, what is suggested by available evidence without being convincingly proven, and what is conjecture at the present time.

The editors are pleased to present these Proceedings of the V Course of the "International School of Radiation Damage and Pro tection" of the "E. Majorana Centre", held in Erice (Italy) in No vember 1983. The lectures and discussions among leading scientists in various disciplines of physics, engineering, biophysics, cellular biology, physiology and medicine from 11 countries are included in this compilation. In this volume we have attempted to explore all aspects of the interaction of static and Extremely Low Frequency (ELF: 0-300 Hz) electric and magnetic fields with biological tissue, systems and whole organisms; we considered dosimetry and what is known or pre sumed concerning basic interactions, responses from the cellular and molecular level to the whole organism. Discussions of medical appli cations as well as epidemiologic investigations related to high volt age transmission were held with critiques of methodologies used and recommendations for future approaches. Consideration was also given to the necessity and principles of setting protection standards for man and the environment. We believe this is the first attempt to put all this informa tion together into one volume to provide perspective for understand ing the influence of static and ELF electric and magnetic fields on biological systems. We hope our attempts were successful. Martino Grandolfo Sol M. Michaelson Alessandro Rindi v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This is the Fifth Course of the International School of Radia tion Damage and Protection of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Sci entific Culture directed by Professor A. Zichichi.

The editors address the anxiety-provoking, but not uncommon, scenario of a woman learning that she is pregnant after diagnostic or therapeutic radiologic exposure, or alternately, requiring X-rays, magnetic resonance, radioisotopes, or ultrasound after she becomes pregnant. Considerations span: the mechanisms for injury by diagnostic radiations, the units and measures of radiation, the amount of radiation absorbed by the conceptus, prenatal risk assessment, clinical management, and case reports (of diseases and traumatic injuries) exemplifying decision recommendations and counseling. Appendixes guide conceptus dose calculations for X-ray exams and radionuclide studies, and list half-lives of 23 radionuclides used in nuclear medicine (5,730 years for Carbon-14). Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR