Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Results of a United States and Soviet Union Joint Project on Nervous System Effects of Microwave Radiation med./bio.

Published in: Environ Health Perspect 1989; 81: 201-209

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To determine the most sensitive and valid test procedures for evaluating the effects of microwave exposure on the central nervous system (a United States and Soviet Union joint project).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: 7 h/day

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Charakteristic
Exposure duration 7 h/day
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber anechoic chamber
Additional info animals housed in individual polypropylene plastic cages / 28.6 cm long, 18 cm wide, 13 cm high
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2.7 mW/g mean measured unspecified -
power density 100 W/m² unspecified measured unspecified -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Neither group observed a significant effect of microwave exposure on open field activity. Both groups found changes in variability of the data obtained using the passive avoidance procedure, but not in the same parameters. The U.S. group, but not the USSR group, found significantly less sodium potassium ATPase activity in the microwave-exposed rats compared to the sham exposed rats. Both groups found incidences of statistically significant effects in the power spectral analysis of EEG frequency (but not at the same frequency). The failure of both groups to substantiate the results of the other reinforces the authors contention that such duplicate projects are important and necessary.

Study character:

Study funded by

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