Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Microwave radiation and heart-beat rate of rabbits med./bio.

By: Chou CK, Han LF, Guy AW
Published in: J Microw Power 1980; 15 (2): 87-93
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Aim of study (acc. to editor)

To study the effects of microwave exposure on heart-beat rate of rabbits.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day, for 10 days
Exposure 2: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day, for 10 days
Exposure 3: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day, for 10 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Charakteristic
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day, for 10 days
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Distance between exposed object and exposure source 25 cm
Setup The rabbits were placed in a wooden squeeze box on a polystyrene block and exposed dorsally or ventrally with their body axis parallel to the E-field. The horn antenna was either above or below the location of the heart.
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 5 mW/cm² - - - -
SAR 0.86 W/kg - measured and calculated - brain at dorsal exposure, maximum
SAR 0.24 W/kg - measured and calculated - brain at ventral exposure, uniform
SAR 0.3 W/kg - measured and calculated - heart at ventral exposure
SAR 0.09 W/kg - measured and calculated - heart at dorsal exposure
power density 80 mW/cm² - - - -
Measurement and calculation details

After the tests, one euthanized rabbit was placed in the squeeze box and exposed to high CW field strengths for a short time in order to record SAR patterns of the sagittal plane by a thermographic camera [Guy, 1971]. Obtained values were extrapolated for a power density of 5 mW/cm².

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Charakteristic
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day, for 10 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 1 µs
Repetition frequency 700 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 5 mW/cm² mean - - -
power density 7.1 W/cm² peak value - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Charakteristic
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 20 min/day, for 10 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 10 µs
Repetition frequency 700 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup The rabbits were exposed dorsally.
Additional info The MW pulses were synchronized with the R wave of the ECG at delay times of 0, 100, and 200 ms.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power density 13.7 W/cm² peak value - - -

Reference articles

  • Guy AW (2013): Analysis of electromagnetic fields induced in biological tissue by thermographic studies on equivalent phantom models

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Rabbits exposed to continuous wave and pulsed wave microwaves at 5 mW/cm² exhibited no significant alterations in the heart beat rate (heart rate). At a power density of 80 mW/cm², the rabbits appeared to be disturbed by the heat produced by the microwaves. An increased heart beat rate was found. No cumulative effect was found over a period of four months, as the heart-beat rate of the rabbits towards the end of the study did not differ from the heart-beat rate at the beginning of the study.

Study character:

Study funded by

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