Long-term, low-level microwave irradiation of rats.
Chou CK, Guy AW, Kunz LL, Johnson RB, Crowley JJ, Krupp JH · 1992
View Original AbstractLifetime microwave exposure at levels below current safety limits produced measurable biological effects in laboratory animals.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 200 rats to low-level microwave radiation (similar to cell phone frequencies) for nearly their entire lifetimes, 21.5 hours daily for 25 months. The study monitored blood chemistry, hormone levels, immune function, and overall health throughout the animals' lives. This represents one of the most comprehensive long-term studies of microwave radiation effects on living organisms.
Why This Matters
This landmark study stands out for its exceptional duration and scope - exposing animals to microwave radiation for essentially their entire adult lives at power levels comparable to what we might experience from wireless devices. The researchers used 2,450 MHz radiation, the same frequency used in microwave ovens and early WiFi systems, at SAR levels of 0.15-0.4 W/kg. For context, current cell phone SAR limits are 1.6 W/kg in the US, making these exposure levels relatively modest by today's standards. What makes this research particularly significant is its lifetime exposure protocol and comprehensive health monitoring - exactly the kind of long-term data that's been largely missing from EMF safety discussions. The science demonstrates that even low-level, chronic exposures can produce measurable biological changes, challenging the assumption that brief safety studies are sufficient to assess real-world health risks.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.15, 0.4 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 2,450-MHz
- Exposure Duration
- Began at 8 weeks of age and continued daily, 21.5 h/day, for 25 months
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
Our goal was to investigate effects of long-term exposure to pulsed microwave radiation. The major emphasis was to expose a large sample of experimental animals throughout their lifetimes and to monitor them for effects on general health and longevity.
An exposure facility was developed that enabled 200 rats to be maintained under specific-pathogen-fr...
After 13 months, 10 rats from each group were euthanatized to test for immunological competence and ...
Show BibTeX
@article{ck_1992_longterm_lowlevel_microwave_irradiation_905,
author = {Chou CK and Guy AW and Kunz LL and Johnson RB and Crowley JJ and Krupp JH},
title = {Long-term, low-level microwave irradiation of rats.},
year = {1992},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1482413/},
}