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Acute low-intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells

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Lai H, Singh NP · 1995

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Low-intensity microwave exposure increased DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells, with effects seen up to 4 hours after exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured DNA single-strand breaks in brain cells of rats acutely exposed to low-intensity 2450 MHz microwaves, using an alkaline microgel electrophoresis method. After 2 hours of exposure to pulsed microwaves, no significant effect was observed immediately after exposure, but a dose rate-dependent increase in DNA single-strand breaks was found in brain cells at 4 hours postexposure. In rats exposed for 2 hours to continuous-wave 2450 MHz microwaves at 1.2 W/kg SAR, increases in brain cell DNA single-strand breaks were observed both immediately and at 4 hours postexposure.

Why This Matters

The study compared two types of microwave exposure: pulsed and continuous-wave, both at 2450 MHz. For pulsed microwave exposure, no significant effect was observed immediately after exposure, while a dose rate-dependent increase in DNA single-strand breaks appeared at 4 hours postexposure. For continuous-wave exposure, increases in DNA single-strand breaks appeared both right after the exposure ended and again at 4 hours postexposure.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.6 & 1.2 W/kg
Source/Device
low‐intensity 2450 MHz
Exposure Duration
2h

Exposure Context

This study used 0.6 & 1.2 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.6 & 1.2 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 3 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2.45 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2.45 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To investigate whether acute low‐intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single‐strand breaks in rat brain cells.

Levels of DNA single‐strand break were assayed in brain cells from rats acutely exposed to low‐inten...

Immediately after 2 h of exposure to pulsed (2 μs width, 500 pulses/s) microwaves, no significant ef...

Cite This Study
Lai H, Singh NP (1995). Acute low-intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells Bioelectromagnetics 16(3):207-210, 1995.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_1995_acute_lowintensity_microwave_exposure_53,
  author = {Lai H and Singh NP},
  title = {Acute low-intensity microwave exposure increases DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells},
  year = {1995},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.2250160309},
  url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.2250160309/abstract},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.2250160309

Cited By (419 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study measured DNA single-strand breaks in brain cells from rats.
Immediately after 2 hours of pulsed microwave exposure, no significant effect was observed.
A dose rate-dependent increase in DNA single-strand breaks was found in brain cells of rats at 4 hours postexposure, at SAR levels of 0.6 and 1.2 W/kg.
DNA single-strand break levels were assayed using an alkaline microgel electrophoresis method.
With continuous-wave exposure, increases in DNA single-strand breaks were observed immediately as well as at 4 hours postexposure. With pulsed exposure, no significant effect was observed immediately after the 2-hour exposure.