Heating by microwaves of cold preserved blood
Brindle GF, Lamarche Y, Pel'e JP · 1972
Early medical research showed microwaves could damage blood cells, foreshadowing today's concerns about EMF bioeffects.
Plain English Summary
This 1972 study examined using microwave energy to heat cold preserved blood for medical transfusions. The research focused on whether microwave heating could safely warm stored blood without causing hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells). This early work explored microwave applications in medical settings, decades before widespread concern about EMF health effects.
Why This Matters
This research represents one of the earliest investigations into medical microwave applications, predating our modern understanding of EMF bioeffects by decades. While the study focused on practical medical applications rather than health risks, it highlights how microwave energy interacts directly with biological tissues and fluids. The concern about hemolysis (red blood cell damage) during microwave heating reveals that researchers understood microwaves could alter biological structures even in 1972.
What makes this particularly relevant today is that medical microwave applications have expanded dramatically, from diathermy treatments to cancer ablation therapies. The microwave frequencies used in medical settings are often similar to those in consumer devices like WiFi routers and cell phones, yet we're only now beginning to understand the broader health implications of chronic, low-level exposure to these same frequencies in our daily environment.
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagram extracted from the original research document.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: Less than 55 seconds
Study Details
To determine if microwave heating of cold preserved blood affects red cell integrity and to study the variations in potassium serum concentrations caused by heating in the microwave oven.
50 units of whole blood and 2 units of washed red cells were heated in a microwave warmer (model 987...
No significant changes in red cell fragility or plasma potassium levels were observed after microwav...
The microwave blood warmer currently available heats blood rapidly (45-55 sec.) without damaging red cells, provided manufacturer instructions are strictly followed. However, improper heating techniques can cause excessive hemolysis and potentially reduce red cell survival in vivo. The device is expensive ($3,000) but can serve an entire operating block. The main disadvantages include high initial cost, potential damage to red cells when heating small volumes of blood (<450 ml), and increased risk of identification errors during multiple simultaneous transfusions. The study concluded that the microwave heating method does not increase red cell fragility or plasma hemoglobin and potassium levels, though it confirmed the increase in serum potassium with blood aging.
Show BibTeX
@article{heating_by_microwaves_of_cold_preserved_blood_g6405,
author = {Brindle GF and Lamarche Y and Pel'e JP},
title = {Heating by microwaves of cold preserved blood},
year = {1972},
}