Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Microwave irradiation and ambient temperature interact to alter rat behavior following overnight exposure med./bio.

By: Gage MI
Published in: J Microw Power 1979; 14 (4): 389-398
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the interaction of microwave power density with ambient temperature during exposures of rats. The interaction was evaluated by behavior measured after termination of overnight exposures.

Background/further details

Animals were exposed three times at an ambient temperature of 22°C, then three times at 28°C, and then once more at 22°C. Rats were exposed for 15.5 h to continuous wave (CW) 2450-MHz microwaves once every 6 nights.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: intermittent 15.5 h, once every 6 nights
  • power density: 50 W/m² minimum
  • SAR: 1.3 mW/g maximum (whole body) (0.7, 1.0, 1.1, 1.3 mW/g at 5 mW/cm²)
  • SAR: 3.9 mW/g maximum (whole body) (2.1, 3.0, 3.3, 3.9 mW/g at 15 mW/cm²)
  • power density: 150 W/m² maximum (5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mW/cm²)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Waveform
Charakteristic
Exposure duration intermittent 15.5 h, once every 6 nights
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 2.7 m
Chamber Environmentally controlled Styrofoam chamber maintained at 22°C and containing 4 boxes located in an anechoic chamber
Setup A rat was housed in a rectangular, clear acrylic box 17.7 x 9.2 x 7.6 cm which was equidistant from the center in a horizontal direction and midway along each wall.
Additional info Longh dimention of the box was parallel to the E-field vector of the microwave.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 50 W/m² minimum measured - -
SAR 1.3 mW/g maximum calculated whole body 0.7, 1.0, 1.1, 1.3 mW/g at 5 mW/cm²
SAR 3.9 mW/g maximum calculated whole body 2.1, 3.0, 3.3, 3.9 mW/g at 15 mW/cm²
power density 150 W/m² maximum measured - 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mW/cm²
Additional parameter details

white noise at 70 dB

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

None of the exposures to microwaves at 22°C changed rates or durations of responding. Exposures at 28°C decreased response rates and increased response durations in direct relation to the power density. The data are interpreted as the transient debilitation of behavior produced by the interaction of a mild elevation of ambient temperature and microwave exposure.

Study character:

Study funded by

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