Behavioral Effects of Chronic Exposure to 0.5 mW/cm2 of 2,450-MHz Microwaves

摘要

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/sq cm. Exposures were in a monopole-above-ground radiation chamber with rats in Plexiglass cages. The resulting specific absorption rate (SAR) was 0.14 W/kg (+ or - 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 on an open field, and active avoidance task and an operant task for food reinforcement. Performance of sham- and microwave-irradiated rats were 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/sq cm 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. Keywords: Reprint. (KT/KR)