Comparative thermoregulatory response to passive heat loading by exposure to radiofrequency radiation

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5230445

Gordon, C J; Ali, J S

Colonic and tail-skin temperature of the unrestrained Fischer rat were measured immediately after a 90-min exposure to 600-MHz radiofrequency radiation in a waveguide-type system. Ambient temperature (Ta) was maintained at either 20, 28, or 35 C. The specific absorption rate (SAR) in dimensions of W/kg was controlled at a constant level through a feedback control circuit. The SAR needed to elevate colonic and tail-skin temperature decreased with increasing Ta. For example, a 0.5 C elevation in colonic temperature occurred at SAR's of 4.3, 0.9, and 0.5 W/kg when Ta was maintained at 20, 28, and 35 C, respectively. Data from this study were combined with data from earlier studies to assess the impact of varying Ta on the thermogenic effect of RF radiation in different species. In species ranging in mass from 0.02 to 3.2 kg, a double logarithmic plot of body mass versus SAR needed to elevate colonic temperature by 0.5 C was linear and inverse with a high goodness of fit (r(2) = -0.94). The highly correlated allometric relationship shows that, as body mass decreases, the relative impact of Ta on the thermogenic effect of RF radiation increases.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5230445
• Report Number(s): PB-88-171160/XAB; EPA-600/J-87/265
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CONTROL
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FREQUENCY RANGE
MAMMALS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MHZ RANGE
MHZ RANGE 100-1000
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RATS
RODENTS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOREGULATION
VERTEBRATES