A cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).
Johnson EH, Chima SC, Muirhead DE · 1999
View Original AbstractA squirrel monkey with long-term microwave exposure developed an aggressive brain tumor, adding to concerns about wireless radiation and cancer risk.
Plain English Summary
Researchers examined an adult squirrel monkey that had been exposed to microwave radiation for an extended period and discovered a malignant brain tumor in its cerebral cortex. The tumor showed aggressive characteristics including rapid cell division and genetic abnormalities. This case report provides evidence that long-term microwave exposure may contribute to brain cancer development in primates.
Why This Matters
This case report from Yale University researchers documents a concerning finding: a squirrel monkey with long-term microwave radiation exposure developed an aggressive brain tumor. While this is a single case study rather than a controlled experiment, it's significant because squirrel monkeys are closely related to humans and often used as models for human health research. The tumor showed classic markers of malignancy, including rapid cell proliferation and p53 protein abnormalities-the same genetic changes seen in human brain cancers.
What makes this case particularly relevant is that microwave radiation encompasses the same frequencies used by cell phones, WiFi, and other wireless devices we use daily. While we can't draw definitive conclusions from one case, this finding adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic exposure to radiofrequency radiation may increase cancer risk. The reality is that we're all participating in a large-scale experiment with these technologies, and studies like this remind us why precautionary measures make sense.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate A cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).
An adult squirrel monkey with a history of long-term exposure to microwave radiation was found at ne...
Microscopy revealed a tumor composed of sheets of moderate-sized cells, resembling an oligodendrogli...
The tumor was diagnosed as a cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor.
Show BibTeX
@article{eh_1999_a_cerebral_primitive_neuroectodermal_2242,
author = {Johnson EH and Chima SC and Muirhead DE},
title = {A cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).},
year = {1999},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10431699/},
}