Alex,
my research thesis (a long time ago) involved electric field applications, but not high voltage - high Current DC electric fields. And it's the current that can be lethal.
Incidentally, what are the ions or atoms which will be fused together as they pass through the inner electrode screen/cage? This may help you determine what the by products will be.
I suppose fusion is a type of high energy Alchemy - maybe you could fire some Copper and Tin atoms in and get Gold out the other end
cheers