Changes in the Blood Count of Growing Rats Irradiated with a Microwave Pulse Field
Jana Pazderová-Vejlupková, Marcel Josífko · 1979
Pulsed microwave radiation at WiFi-like frequencies significantly altered blood cell counts in growing rats, with effects reversing after exposure ended.
Plain English Summary
This 1979 study exposed growing rats to pulsed microwave radiation at 2,736.5 MHz for 7 weeks and tracked blood changes. The radiation significantly reduced hematocrit levels, white blood cell counts, and lymphocyte numbers during exposure, with effects gradually reversing over 10 weeks after exposure ended. The study demonstrates that microwave radiation can measurably alter blood composition in developing animals.
Why This Matters
This early research provides important evidence that pulsed microwave radiation can disrupt normal blood cell development and immune function. The 2,736.5 MHz frequency falls within the range used by modern WiFi and some cellular technologies, making these findings particularly relevant today. What's striking is that these blood changes occurred at power densities of 24.4 mW/cm² - levels that are actually higher than typical consumer device exposures but within ranges that can occur with prolonged close-proximity use of wireless devices.
The fact that effects were reversible offers some reassurance, but the study raises important questions about chronic exposure during critical developmental periods. The researchers documented clear biological responses in growing animals, including compromised immune cell counts that took 10 weeks to normalize. This suggests our bodies can recover from EMF exposure, but also that ongoing exposure during growth and development deserves careful consideration.
Finding
In the second half of the irradiation period the experimental animals exhibited significantly lower mean hematocrit values, lower numbers of leukocytes, and lower absolute numbers of lymphocytes. These changes disappeared gradually within 10 wk after completed irradiation, Activity of alkaline phosphatase in neutrophil leukocytes was significantly increased in the 1st wk of irradiation and dropped transiently after the irradiation. In the post-irradiation interval experimental animals displayed significant decline in rate of body weight increase.
In their words
“In the second half of the irradiation period the experimental animals exhibited significantly lower mean hematocrit values, lower numbers of leukocytes, and lower absolute numbers of lymphocytes. These changes disappeared gradually within 10 wk after completed irradiation, Activity of alkaline phosphatase in neutrophil leukocytes was significantly increased in the 1st wk of irradiation and dropped transiently after the irradiation. In the post-irradiation interval experimental animals displayed significant decline in rate of body weight increase.”
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{changes_in_the_blood_count_of_growing_rats_irradiated_with_a_microwave_pulse_fie_g4598,
author = {Jana Pazderová-Vejlupková and Marcel Josífko},
title = {Changes in the Blood Count of Growing Rats Irradiated with a Microwave Pulse Field},
year = {1979},
}