Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Some behavioral effects of short-term exposure of rats to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 1988; 9 (3): 259-268

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the behavioral consequences of microwave irradiation occuring over a relatively short period under well-defined dosimetric conditions. The effects of microwave irradiation on spontaneous motor activity and reactivity to a novel acoustic environmental stimulus were examined in rats.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.45 GHz
Modulation type: CW
Exposure duration: continuous for 7 h

General information

Two animals were exposed to microwave and two were sham exposed.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.45 GHz
Type
Waveform
Polarization
Exposure duration continuous for 7 h
Modulation
Modulation type CW
Additional info

less than 5% amplitude modulated

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber anechoic chamber 2.5 m wide, 3.0 m long, and 2.5 m high with absorbers (-45dB), polypropylene plastic cages 26.8x18x13cm
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2.7 mW/g mean estimated whole body determined by Dewar calorimetry technique
power density 100 W/m² unspecified measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Microwave-irradiated rats exhibited less activity than sham-exposed rats. The microwave-exposed rats were less responsive to the acoustic stimuli than sham-exposed rats. Microwave irradiation had no effect on the retention of a passive avoidance procedure when tested at 1 week after training. Both the locomotor activity and acoustic startle data show that, under the conditions of this experiment, microwave irradiation may alter responsiveness of rats to novel environmental conditions or stimuli.

Study character:

Study funded by

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