Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Reduction in metabolic heat production during exposure to radio-frequency radiation in the rat med./bio.

By: Gordon CJ
Published in: J Appl Physiol 1987; 62 (5): 1814-1818
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To assess the ability of rats to reduce metabolic rate when exposed to deep-penetrating radiofrequency irradiation.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 600 MHz
Exposure duration: 60 min
Exposure 2: 600 MHz
Exposure duration: 60 min
Exposure 3: 600 MHz
Exposure duration: 60 min
Exposure 4: 600 MHz
Exposure duration: 60 min
Exposure 5: 600 MHz
Exposure duration: 60 min

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 600 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Waveguide
Setup Rats placed in a 0.32 cm Plexiglas box (29.7 cm long x 17.1 cm wide x 14.6 cm high) placed in the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1 mW/g - calculated - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 600 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Waveguide
Setup Rats placed in a 0.32 cm Plexiglas box (29.7 cm long x 17.1 cm wide x 14.6 cm high) placed in the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 mW/g - calculated - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 600 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Waveguide
Setup Rats placed in a 0.32 cm Plexiglas box (29.7 cm long x 17.1 cm wide x 14.6 cm high) placed in the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 3 mW/g - calculated - -

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 600 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Waveguide
Setup Rats placed in a 0.32 cm Plexiglas box (29.7 cm long x 17.1 cm wide x 14.6 cm high) placed in the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 4 mW/g - calculated - -

Exposure 5

Main characteristics
Frequency 600 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 60 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Waveguide
Setup Rats placed in a 0.32 cm Plexiglas box (29.7 cm long x 17.1 cm wide x 14.6 cm high) placed in the waveguide.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 5 mW/g - calculated - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

SARs of 2-5 W/kg led to significant reductions in metabolic rate when averaged from 30 to 60 min after the initiation of exposure. The total decrease in metabolic rate during exposure accounted for approximately 37% of the total radiofrequency heat load.
Exposure of another group of animals to the same SARs at a ambient temperature of 10°C resulted in a significant elevation in colonic temperature. Thus, despite the decrease in metabolic rate, heat gain still exceeded heat loss during exposure, with a resultant elevation in deep body temperature.
In conclusion, in a cold environment the rat exposed to radiofrequency irradiation decreases its metabolic rate. However, the response time and efficiency is not adequate to prevent an increase in body temperature.

Study character:

Study funded by