EFFECT OF DIATHERMY (SHORT WAVE AND MICROWAVE) ON BONE GROWTH IN THE ALBINO RAT
CHARLES S. WISE, BENJAMIN CASTLEMAN, ARTHUR L. WATKINS · 1949
Single exposures to medical shortwave and microwave radiation altered bone growth in developing rats, suggesting electromagnetic fields can interfere with normal tissue development.
Plain English Summary
This 1949 study exposed growing rats to medical diathermy treatments (shortwave and microwave radiation) near their knee joints to see if these electromagnetic fields affected bone growth. The researchers found that single exposures to both 8-meter shortwave and 11-centimeter microwave frequencies caused observable changes in bone development. This early research demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation could interfere with normal growth processes in developing tissue.
Why This Matters
This pioneering study from 1949 deserves attention because it was among the first to document biological effects from electromagnetic radiation on developing tissue. The researchers found measurable impacts on bone growth from single exposures to frequencies still used in medical diathermy today. What makes this particularly relevant is that modern wireless devices operate at similar microwave frequencies, yet we're exposed continuously rather than in controlled medical settings. The fact that a single therapeutic exposure could alter bone development in growing rats raises important questions about chronic, low-level exposures from our wireless environment. While medical diathermy uses much higher power levels than consumer devices, the demonstrated biological impact on growing tissue suggests developing children may be particularly vulnerable to EMF effects.
Finding
When moderate soft-tissue injury was present immediately after exposure to either short-wave or microwave radiation, the subsequent effect on bone growth—shortening, deformity, partial or complete epiphyseal destruction, et cetera—did not always parallel the extent of the soft-tissue injury.
In their words
“When moderate soft-tissue injury was present immediately after exposure to either short-wave or microwave radiation, the subsequent effect on bone growth—shortening, deformity, partial or complete epiphyseal destruction, et cetera—did not always parallel the extent of the soft-tissue injury.”
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagrams extracted from the original research document.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{effect_of_diathermy_short_wave_and_microwave_on_bone_growth_in_the_albino_rat_g5584,
author = {CHARLES S. WISE and BENJAMIN CASTLEMAN and ARTHUR L. WATKINS},
title = {EFFECT OF DIATHERMY (SHORT WAVE AND MICROWAVE) ON BONE GROWTH IN THE ALBINO RAT},
year = {1949},
}