Behavioral effects of chronic exposure to 0.5 mW/cm2 of 2,450-MHz microwaves.

Bioelectromagnetics · 1987 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6217

Rats chronically exposed to continuous-wave 2,450-MHz microwaves (0.5 mW/cm2; SAR 0.14 W/kg) differed reliably from sham-exposed rats on only one behavioral measure (a lever-pressing operant task). The authors conclude exposure was below the threshold for beh…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 1987

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Adult male, Long-Evans rats were exposed 7 h a day for 90 days to continuous wave (CW) 2,450-MHz microwaves at an average power density of 0.5 mW/cm2. Exposures were in a monopole-above-ground radiation chamber with rats in Plexiglas cages. The resulting specific absorption rate (SAR) was 0.14 W/kg (+/- 0.01 SEM). Additional rats served as sham-exposed and home-caged controls. All were evaluated daily for body mass and food and water intakes. Once each 30 days, throughout baseline and exposure phases of the experiment, rats in the sham- and microwave-exposed groups were tested for their sensitivity to footshock. After 90-days of exposure, the rats were evaluated an open field, an active avoidance task and an operant task for food reinforcement. Performance of sham- and microwave-irradiated rats was reliably different on only one measure, the lever-pressing task. The general conclusion reached was that exposure to CW 2,450-MHz microwave radiation at 0.5 mW/cm2 was below the threshold for behavioral effects over a wide range of variables, but did have an effect on a time-related operant task, although the direction of the effect was unpredictable.

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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

PopulationAdult male Long-Evans rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 0.14 W/kg · 7 h/day for 90 days (continuous wave)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Body mass
Food intake
Water intake
Footshock sensitivity
Open field behavior
Active avoidance performance
Operant lever-pressing for food reinforcement

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Direction of the operant-task effect described as unpredictable
Only abstract-level details available on methods/statistics

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": 0.14,
    "duration": "7 h/day for 90 days (continuous wave)"
  },
  "population": "Adult male Long-Evans rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Body mass",
    "Food intake",
    "Water intake",
    "Footshock sensitivity",
    "Open field behavior",
    "Active avoidance performance",
    "Operant lever-pressing for food reinforcement"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats chronically exposed to continuous-wave 2,450-MHz microwaves (0.5 mW/cm2; SAR 0.14 W/kg) differed reliably from sham-exposed rats on only one behavioral measure (a lever-pressing operant task). The authors conclude exposure was below the threshold for behavioral effects across many variables, but did affect a time-related operant task with an unpredictable direction.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Direction of the operant-task effect described as unpredictable",
    "Only abstract-level details available on methods/statistics"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave",
    "2450 MHz",
    "continuous wave",
    "power density",
    "SAR",
    "chronic exposure",
    "rat",
    "behavior",
    "operant task",
    "active avoidance",
    "open field",
    "footshock sensitivity"
  ],
  "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.2250080205
PubMed: 3619949

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