Behavioral teratologic studies using microwave radiation: is there an increased risk from exposure to cellular phones and microwave ovens? review

The aim of this article is to summarize previous studies.
To study if there are adverse effects due to chronic nonthermal prenatal microwave exposure in rats at term and/or alterations in neonatal and adult offspring psychophysiologic development and growth. The observations concerning exposure to 915, 2450, and 6000 MHz, frequencies used in cellular phones and microwave ovens, are discussed in the present review (for detailed data see publication 9683, publication 2819, publication 2818, publication 2816, publication 2852, and publication 2853).

• animal
• rat/Wistar albino
• whole body

Rats exposed to 915 MHz did not exhibit any consistent significant alterations in any of the above parameters.
Exposure to 2450 MHz resulted only in a significantly increased adult offspring activity level compared to non-exposed offspring.
Animals exposed to 6000 MHz exhibited an initial slight, but significant, retardation in term weight, while mothers had a significantly reduced monocyte count.
No alterations in any of the other term parameters were found. A few postnatal parameters were affected in animals exposed to 6000 MHz. Weekly weights were lower in the irradiated offspring, but they recovered by the fifth week. Eye opening was delayed, and there were alterations in the water T-maze and open field performance levels. Several body/organ weight ratios differed from those of the control offspring.
These findings indicate that exposure to 6000 MHz at this power density level may result in subtle long-term neurophysiologic changes. However, the microwave frequencies tested, which included frequencies used in cellular phones and microwave ovens, do not induce a consistent, significant increase in reproductive risk.