Studies of the teratogenic potential of exposure of rats to 6000-MHz microwave radiation. II. Postnatal psychophysiologic evaluations.

Abstract

Wistar rats (36) were exposed daily throughout pregnancy to a power density level of 35 mW/cm2 of 6000-MHz microwave radiation (11), sham irradiated (10), or used as control animals (15). Litters were culled to a maximum of eight F1a offspring/litter (total = 124) on Postnatal Day 1 and subjected to a series of reflex tests beginning Day 3. Mothers were rebred 10 days after weaning. Teratologic evaluations were completed on 263 F1b offspring. Weekly weights were recorded for 298 F1a offspring. At 60 days, behavioral testing was initiated on 121 offspring. At 90 days, offspring were bred within/across groups. Teratologic evaluations were completed on 659 F2 term fetuses. Organ weight analyses were completed on 17 mothers and 181 F1a adult offspring, and blood analyses on 21 mothers and 131 offspring. Sex differences within groups were observed in four behavioral tests and in blood data. Significant differences between groups were observed for: F1b term fetal weight; F1a eye opening, postnatal growth to the fifth week, water T-maze and open field test results; and several organ/body weight ratios. These results indicate that exposure to 6000-MHz radiation at this power density level may result in subtle long-term neurophysiologic alterations not detectable at term using conventional morphologic teratologic procedures.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to 6000-MHz microwave radiation at 35 mW/cm2 during pregnancy resulted in significant differences in fetal weight, developmental milestones, behavioral test results, and organ/body weight ratios, indicating subtle long-term neurophysiologic alterations not detectable by conventional teratologic methods at term.

Outcomes measured

• F1b term fetal weight
• F1a eye opening
• postnatal growth to the fifth week
• water T-maze test results
• open field test results
• organ/body weight ratios
• blood analyses
• behavioral tests

Limitations

• Study conducted on rats, limiting direct human applicability
• Power density level used is relatively high compared to typical human exposures
• No direct assessment of mechanism of neurophysiologic alterations

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 6000,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "daily throughout pregnancy"
    },
    "population": "Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": 36,
    "outcomes": [
        "F1b term fetal weight",
        "F1a eye opening",
        "postnatal growth to the fifth week",
        "water T-maze test results",
        "open field test results",
        "organ/body weight ratios",
        "blood analyses",
        "behavioral tests"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to 6000-MHz microwave radiation at 35 mW/cm2 during pregnancy resulted in significant differences in fetal weight, developmental milestones, behavioral test results, and organ/body weight ratios, indicating subtle long-term neurophysiologic alterations not detectable by conventional teratologic methods at term.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Study conducted on rats, limiting direct human applicability",
        "Power density level used is relatively high compared to typical human exposures",
        "No direct assessment of mechanism of neurophysiologic alterations"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.6999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "teratogenicity",
        "neurophysiology",
        "rats",
        "behavioral testing",
        "developmental toxicity"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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