Effects of microwave exposure and temperature on survival of mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Bioelectromagnetics · 1987 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6215

Across ambient temperatures below 34°C, microwave-exposed mice had significantly greater survival than concurrently sham-exposed mice (approximately 20% higher). At ambient temperatures at or above 37°C, deaths from hyperthermia occurred, and the abstract sta…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 1987

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Female CD-1 mice were injected with an LD50 dose of Streptococcus pneumoniae and then exposed to 2.45 GHz (CW) microwave radiation at an incident power density of 10 mW/cm2 (SAR = 6.8 W/kg), 4 h/d for 5 d at ambient temperatures of 19 degrees C, 22 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 28 degrees C, 31 degrees C, 34 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Four groups of 25 animals were exposed at each temperature with an equal number of animals concurrently sham-exposed. Survival was observed for a 10-d period after infection. Survival of the sham-exposed animals increased as ambient temperature increased from 19 degrees C-34 degrees C. At ambient temperatures at or above 37 degrees C the heat induced in the body exceeded the thermoregulatory capacity of the animals and deaths from hyperthermia occurred. Survival of the microwave-exposed animals was significantly greater than the shams (approximately 20%) at each ambient temperature below 34 degrees C. Based on an analysis of the data it appears that the hyperthermia induced by microwave exposure may be more effective in increasing survival in infected mice than hyperthermia produced by conventional methods (ie, high ambient temperature). Microwave radiation may be beneficial to infected animals at low and moderate ambient temperatures, but it is detrimental when combined with high ambient temperatures.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationFemale CD-1 mice infected with an LD50 dose of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Sample size400

Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 6.8 W/kg · 4 h/d for 5 d

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Survival over 10 days after infection
Hyperthermia-related deaths at high ambient temperatures

Limitations

Mechanism is inferred as hyperthermia; non-thermal effects are not established in the abstract
Results depend on ambient temperature conditions; high-temperature conditions caused hyperthermia-related mortality
No additional details provided on randomization/blinding or statistical methods in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": 6.8,
    "duration": "4 h/d for 5 d"
  },
  "population": "Female CD-1 mice infected with an LD50 dose of Streptococcus pneumoniae",
  "sample_size": 400,
  "outcomes": [
    "Survival over 10 days after infection",
    "Hyperthermia-related deaths at high ambient temperatures"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across ambient temperatures below 34°C, microwave-exposed mice had significantly greater survival than concurrently sham-exposed mice (approximately 20% higher). At ambient temperatures at or above 37°C, deaths from hyperthermia occurred, and the abstract states microwave exposure may be detrimental when combined with high ambient temperatures.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Mechanism is inferred as hyperthermia; non-thermal effects are not established in the abstract",
    "Results depend on ambient temperature conditions; high-temperature conditions caused hyperthermia-related mortality",
    "No additional details provided on randomization/blinding or statistical methods in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "2.45 GHz",
    "microwave radiation",
    "SAR 6.8 W/kg",
    "power density 10 mW/cm2",
    "hyperthermia",
    "ambient temperature",
    "mouse",
    "Streptococcus pneumoniae",
    "survival"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.2250080308
PubMed: 3663251

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