Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Mutagenic response of 2.45 GHz radiation exposure on rat brain med./bio.

By: Kesari KK, Behari J, Kumar S

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2010; 86 (4): 334-343

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effect of 2.45 GHz microwave exposure on developing rat brain (35 days old).

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz Exposure duration: continuous for 2 hr/day on 35 days	power: 1,080 W (input power) power: 700 W (output power) power density: 0.34 mW/cm² SAR: 0.11 W/kg

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.45 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	far field
Exposure duration	continuous for 2 hr/day on 35 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	horn antenna anechoic chamber microwave oven
Setup	48 cm x 27 cm x 15 cm ventilated plastic cage placed inside a temperature-controlled anechoic chamber lined with RF absorbing material; microwave oven connected to horn antenna; aperture of horn antenna facing the cage
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	1,080 W	-	-	-	input power
power	700 W	-	measured	-	output power
power density	0.34 mW/cm²	-	-	-	-
SAR	0.11 W/kg	-	estimated	whole body	-

Reference articles

Paulraj R et al. (2006): Single strand DNA breaks in rat brain cells exposed to microwave radiation
Paulraj R et al. (2002): The effect of low level continuous 2.45 GHz waves on enzymes of developing rat brain

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (double strand breaks; comet assay)
cell function: antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase; spectrophotometry) and enzyme activity of histone kinase (a cell-regulatory molecule closely related to G2 phase/mitosis cell cycle transition; scintillation counting)
effects on the neurological system: DNA damage (see "genotoxicity") and different enzyme activities (see "cell function")

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA
tissue slices
cell lysates; tissue homogenates/supernatants

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

A significant increase was observed in different parameters of comet assay (e.g. comet head length, tail length) in exposed brain cells. An analysis of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase showed a decrease in enzyme activities under exposure while an increase in catalase enzyme activity was found. A significant decrease in histone kinase enzyme activity was also recorded in the exposed group as compared to the sham exposed ones.
The authors conclude that the chronic exposure to 2.45 GHz microwaves may cause a significant damage to the brain, which may be an indication of possible tumour promotion.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study
double-blind study

Study funded by

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India

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Paulraj R et al. (2002): The effect of low level continuous 2.45 GHz waves on enzymes of developing rat brain
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