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Title: Hematologic and immunologic effects of pulsed microwaves in mice

Journal Article · · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)

Mice were exposed in the far field in an anechoic chamber to 2,880-MHz pulsed microwaves 3 to 7.5 h daily, 5 days/week for 60 to 360 h. Three experiments were performed at average power densities of 5 mW/cm/sup 2/ and six at 10 mW/cm/sup 2/, corresponding to averaged specific absorption rates (SARs) of 2.25 and 4.50 mW/g, respectively. In two of three studies at 5 mW/cm/sup 2/, there was a significant increase in bone marrow cellularity in the microwave-exposed groups compared to the sham-exposed groups. Significant differences were occasionally seen in erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet values from microwave-exposed groups, but were not consistently observed. In one of six groups exposed at 10 mW/cm/sup 2/, mean bone marrow cellularity was reduced significantly in the microwave-exposed mice; in another group, the lymphocyte count was increased. In only one exposure (10 mW/cm/sup 2/ for 360 h) was any significant effect noted on serum proteins: a reduction to 5.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl in the exposed versus 5.6 +/- 0.4 g/dl in the sham-exposed mice. This was due to a decrease in alpha and beta globulins, with no effect on albumin or gamma globulin concentrations. No effect on bone marrow granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units (CFU) was revealed following exposure of mice to pulsed microwaves at 5 mW/cm/sup 2/. In one of four exposures at 10 mW/cm/sup 2/, there was a significant increase in CFU-agar colonies. No significant effects of exposures at 10 mW/cm/sup 2/ were observed on in vivo and in vitro assays of cell-mediated immune functions. No exposure-related histopathologic lesions were found from examination of several tissues and organs. Results of these series of exposures of mice at SARs of 2.25 and 4.50 mW/g indicated no consistent effects on the hematologic, immunologic, or histopathologic variables examined.

Research Organization:
Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA
OSTI ID:
6300194
Journal Information:
Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English