The relation of sex, age, and weight of mice to microwave radiation sensitivity.

PAPER pubmed The Journal of microwave power 1976 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1080/00222739.1976.11688994 PMID: 1047661 Evidence Lab

Abstract

It is of interest to determine whether the weanling mouse, the sexually mature mouse, or the aged mouse of both sexes are similarly sensitive to microwave radiation. This study included 114 male and female mice irradiated to death with 2450 MHZ microwave radiation at 7.5 watts forward power, a minimum of 14 mice being used for any single set of variables. Weanling mice of 1 month of age are fully developed with respect to most organ systems except the reproductive. Two month old mice are sexually and otherwise mature, fully capable of survival and reproduction. The age mice of both sexes were ex-breeders which had been used for constant litter production for at least 12 months, and had waning reproductive potential. They were therefore about 14 months of age. It was found that the male mice on the average weighed more than the females (least difference at weaning) and both showed considerable weight increase with age; that weanling males irradiated to death absorbed slightly more radiant energy than did the weanling females, but they were also slightly heavier; that time to death under constant exposure from the beam increased with age for both sexes, indicating increasing microwave resistance with age and/or weight; that the mean absorbed dose at death did not show significant differences related to age or weight within the same sex; that the males showed slight increase in radio-tolerance with age and/or weight as measured by the absorbed dose at death when compared with the females which showed a decline in radio-tolerance with age and/or weight; that in all cases sex seemed to be somewhat more important than did age or weight in determining the lethal absorbed dose at death; and that it took longer longer for the older mice to die due probably to the fact that the rate of absorption of radiation was slower with their increased weight. It is the absorbed dose in joules per gram that is biologically significant and the data shows that the mean absorbed dose to death within either sex shows no significant difference with respect to age or weight, but that the difference between the sexes are significant, particularly among the aged ex-breeders.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Male and female mice (weanling ~1 month; sexually mature ~2 months; aged ex-breeders ~14 months)

Sample size

114

Exposure

microwave · 2450 MHz · Constant exposure from the beam until death (time to death measured)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 114 mice irradiated to death with 2450 MHz microwaves at 7.5 W forward power, time to death increased with age for both sexes. Mean absorbed dose at death (J/g) showed no significant differences related to age or weight within the same sex, but differences between sexes were reported as significant, particularly among aged ex-breeders; males showed a slight increase in radio-tolerance with age/weight compared with females showing a decline.

Outcomes measured

Time to death under exposure
Absorbed radiant energy / absorbed dose at death (joules per gram)
Sex differences in lethal absorbed dose / radio-tolerance
Age/weight differences in time to death and absorbed dose

Limitations

Exposure described as 7.5 W forward power; absorbed dose reported but SAR not provided in abstract
Lethal exposure model (irradiated to death) limits generalizability to non-lethal/environmental exposures
Minimum of 14 mice per variable set; detailed group sizes and statistical methods not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 2450,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Constant exposure from the beam until death (time to death measured)"
    },
    "population": "Male and female mice (weanling ~1 month; sexually mature ~2 months; aged ex-breeders ~14 months)",
    "sample_size": 114,
    "outcomes": [
        "Time to death under exposure",
        "Absorbed radiant energy / absorbed dose at death (joules per gram)",
        "Sex differences in lethal absorbed dose / radio-tolerance",
        "Age/weight differences in time to death and absorbed dose"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In 114 mice irradiated to death with 2450 MHz microwaves at 7.5 W forward power, time to death increased with age for both sexes. Mean absorbed dose at death (J/g) showed no significant differences related to age or weight within the same sex, but differences between sexes were reported as significant, particularly among aged ex-breeders; males showed a slight increase in radio-tolerance with age/weight compared with females showing a decline.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure described as 7.5 W forward power; absorbed dose reported but SAR not provided in abstract",
        "Lethal exposure model (irradiated to death) limits generalizability to non-lethal/environmental exposures",
        "Minimum of 14 mice per variable set; detailed group sizes and statistical methods not provided in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mice",
        "microwave radiation",
        "2450 MHz",
        "sex differences",
        "age",
        "weight",
        "lethal dose",
        "absorbed dose",
        "radio-tolerance"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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