15th Conf on Biometeorology and Aerobiology and the 16th International Congress of Biometeorology

Friday, 1 November 2002: 3:29 PM
Fetal state relationship with geomagnetic disturbances at high latitudes
Elena A. Kasatkina, Polar Geophysical Institute, Apatity, Russia; and O. I. Shumilov, A. V. Enykeev, and A. V. Chramov
Geomagnetic activity influence on fetal state at high latitudes has been investigated. The functional fetal condition was evaluated by a method of carditocography (CTG). CTG is classified with the noninvasive methods and based on the analysis of FHR by means of ultra-sound (the Doppler-shift). CTG data of pregnant women at 33rd week of gestation (about 2500 cases) for the last seven years were reviewed. Measurements have been carried out at the Kirovsk Central Hospital (Murmansk region) using FETALGUARD 2000 ultrasound system. Fetal state was evaluated with help of fetal heart rate (FHR) analysis and calculation of integral parameter IFC. IFC was compared with planetary geomagnetic disturbance indexes (Kp and Dst). It was shown for the first time on a statistically significant material that extremely low level of geomagnetic activity influences negatively on a fetal state. It was evaluated statistically that geomagnetic disturbances influence unfavorable only in 15% of all cases. The most important practical conclusion is that in some cases unfavorable fetal state detected using CTG are caused by external geophysical influences and not by pregnant pathology.

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