Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Acute thermoregulatory responses of the immature rat to warming by low-level 2,450-MHz microwave radiation med./bio.

By: Spiers DE, Adair ER, Baummer SC
Published in: Biol Neonate 1989; 56 (1): 48-56
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

1) To study if microwave treatment can successfully warm the immature rat (6-7 days of age) at cold ambient temperature (approximately 25°C) and 2) to assess both the thermal and metabolic consequences of such exposure.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 1 h
Exposure 2: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 1 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 1 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Anechoic chamber lined with 20 cm pyramidal microwave absorbers, 2.45 m x 2.45 m x 3.66 m.
Setup Rats restrained in a cylindrical holder (2.5 cm internal diameter x 13 cm long) during exposure.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 50 W/m² unspecified measured - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Exposure duration 1 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Anechoic chamber lined with 20 cm pyramidal microwave absorbers/ 2.45 m x 2.45 m x 3.66 m.
Setup Rats restrained in a cylindrical holder (2.5 cm internal diameter x 13 cm long) during exposure.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 200 W/m² unspecified measured - -

Reference articles

  • Adair ER et al. (1985): Thermoregulatory consequences of long-term microwave exposure at controlled ambient temperatures

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Colonic temperature increased significantly above initial level at both power densities and reached a plateau after 45 min of microwave irradiation. Colonic temperature doubled with a four-fold increase in microwave intensity. Prior to irradiation, metabolic heat production was elevated in response to cold ambient temperature and remained unchanged during exposure at 5 mW/cm², but decreased during exposure at 20 mW/cm². The data indicate that the hypothermic rat pup can be effectively warmed by low-level microwave irradiation and is capable of altering metabolism in response to such heating.

Study character:

Study funded by

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