Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Histological and histochemical effect of microwave irradiation on the central nervous system of rabbits and guinea pigs med./bio.

By: Baranski S
Published in: Am J Phys Med 1972; 51 (4): 182-191
Journal partially peer-reviewed/peer-review process unclear
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To verify whether prolonged repeated exposure to microwaves at such power densities which do not cause a rise in temperature may cause histologic or histochemical changes in the CNS of exposed animals.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 3 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: continuous for 3 h
Exposure 2: 3 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 3 h
Exposure 3: 3 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 3 h/day, for 3 months
Exposure 4: 3 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 3 h/day, for 3 months

General information

Animals were irradiated with microwaves in the 10 cm wave band - no frequency indicated!

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 3 GHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 3 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 25 mW/cm² - - - -
power density 3.5 mW/cm² - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 3 GHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 3 h
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Repetition frequency 400 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 25 mW/cm² - - - -
power density 3.5 mW/cm² - - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 3 GHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 3 h/day, for 3 months
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 3.5 mW/cm² - - - -
power density 5 mW/cm² - - - rabbits

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 3 GHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 3 h/day, for 3 months
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Repetition frequency 400 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 3.5 mW/cm² - - - -
power density 5 mW/cm² - - - rabbits

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data indicate that chronic repeated exposure to microwaves, at power densities which do not cause temperature rises, may lead to the appearance of morphologic lesions indicative of metabolic disturbances in myelin sheaths and glial cells as expressed by the appearance of peculiar metachromatic spherical bodies in the white matter of the brain and cerebellum. A proliferative reaction of glial cells was also encountered. Biochemical determinations and evaluation of histochemical preparations demonstrate that following chronic exposure to microwaves acetylcholinesterase activity and succinic acid dehydrogenase activity decrease. This effect is more marked following pulsed wave exposure, which evokes more profound biologic effects than exposure to continuous microwaves (CW).

Study character:

Study funded by