Results of a United States and Soviet Union joint project on nervous system effects of microwave radiation.

Environmental health perspectives · 1989 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6252

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental health perspectives · 1989

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

During the course of a formal program of cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union concerning the biological effects of physical factors in the environment, it was concluded that duplicate projects should be initiated with the general goal of determining the most sensitive and valid test procedures for evaluating the effects of microwave radiation on the central nervous system. This report details an initial step in this direction. Male rats of the Fischer 344 strain were exposed or sham exposed to 10 mW/cm2 continuous wave microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz for a period of 7 hr. Animals were subjected to behavioral, biochemical, or electrophysiological measurements during and/or immediately after exposure. Behavioral tests used were passive avoidance and activity in an open field. Biochemical measurements were ATPase (Na+, K+; Mg2+, Ca2+) and K+ alkaline phosphatase activities. Electrophysiological measurements consisted of EEG frequency analysis. Neither group observed a significant effect of microwave irradiation on open field activity. Both groups observed 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 Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the microwave-exposed animals compared to the sham exposed animals. 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 our contention that such duplicate projects are important and necessary.

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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

PopulationMale Fischer 344 rats

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz · 7 hr

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed or sham exposed to 10 mW/cm2 continuous-wave microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz for 7 hr. Neither group observed a significant effect on open field activity. Both groups observed changes in variability in passive avoidance data (not in the same parameters). The U.S. group (but not the USSR group) found significantly less Na+,K+-ATPase activity in exposed animals; both groups reported statistically significant EEG power spectral effects but not at the same frequency.

Outcomes measured

Open field activity
Passive avoidance behavior
ATPase activities (Na+,K+; Mg2+,Ca2+)
K+ alkaline phosphatase activity
EEG frequency power spectral analysis

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Duplicate groups did not replicate each other's specific significant findings (differences in parameters/frequencies showing effects)
Some outcomes described as changes in variability rather than consistent directional effects

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "7 hr"
  },
  "population": "Male Fischer 344 rats",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Open field activity",
    "Passive avoidance behavior",
    "ATPase activities (Na+,K+; Mg2+,Ca2+)",
    "K+ alkaline phosphatase activity",
    "EEG frequency power spectral analysis"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed or sham exposed to 10 mW/cm2 continuous-wave microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz for 7 hr. Neither group observed a significant effect on open field activity. Both groups observed changes in variability in passive avoidance data (not in the same parameters). The U.S. group (but not the USSR group) found significantly less Na+,K+-ATPase activity in exposed animals; both groups reported statistically significant EEG power spectral effects but not at the same frequency.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Duplicate groups did not replicate each other's specific significant findings (differences in parameters/frequencies showing effects)",
    "Some outcomes described as changes in variability rather than consistent directional effects"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "2.45 GHz",
    "continuous wave",
    "10 mW/cm2",
    "rats",
    "central nervous system",
    "behavior",
    "passive avoidance",
    "open field",
    "Na+,K+-ATPase",
    "alkaline phosphatase",
    "EEG",
    "power spectral analysis",
    "US-USSR joint project"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Study concerns biological effects of microwave radiation relevant to exposure guideline discussions, but no direct mention of WHO/ICNIRP in abstract."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1289/ehp.8981201
PubMed: 2527152

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