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Modification of lethal radiation injury in mice by postradiation exposure to low-intensity centimeter-band radio frequency waves

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Akoev IG, Mel'nikov VM, Usachev AV, Kozhokaru AF, · 1994

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This study found that extremely low-intensity RF radiation helped mice survive lethal gamma exposure, demonstrating complex biological responses to electromagnetic fields.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to lethal doses of gamma radiation, then immediately treated them with low-intensity radiofrequency waves (2-27 GHz) for up to 23 hours. The RF-treated mice showed improved survival rates and lived longer than untreated mice. This suggests that certain RF frequencies might have protective biological effects under extreme conditions.

Why This Matters

This 1994 study presents an intriguing finding that challenges common assumptions about RF radiation effects. The researchers found that low-intensity RF waves at power densities of 5 microwatts per square centimeter actually helped mice survive otherwise lethal radiation exposure. To put this in perspective, this power density is extremely low - roughly 100,000 times weaker than what you'd experience holding a cell phone to your head. What makes this research particularly interesting is that it demonstrates RF radiation can have protective biological effects, not just harmful ones. The science shows that biological responses to electromagnetic fields are complex and dose-dependent, much like pharmaceutical drugs. This doesn't mean RF radiation is universally beneficial, but it does highlight that the relationship between EMF exposure and biological effects isn't simply linear or always negative.

Exposure Details

Power Density
5 +/- 1.5 µW/m²
Source/Device
2-8, 8-18 and 19-27 GHz with a swing frequency of 12-14 Hz
Exposure Duration
up to 23 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 5 +/- 1.5 µW/m² for radio frequency:

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 ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 5 +/- 1.5 µW/m²Extreme Concern1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit10M uW/m2Effects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 6,666,667x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

The aim of this study is to observe Modification of lethal radiation injury in mice by postradiation exposure to low-intensity centimeter-band radio frequency waves

A clearly pronounced modification of acute radiation injury of mice has been obtained by prolonged a...

Survival of mice and average life duration of killed mice were increased.

Cite This Study
Akoev IG, Mel'nikov VM, Usachev AV, Kozhokaru AF, (1994). Modification of lethal radiation injury in mice by postradiation exposure to low-intensity centimeter-band radio frequency waves Radiats Biol Radioecol 34(4-5):671-674, 1994.
Show BibTeX
@article{ig_1994_modification_of_lethal_radiation_802,
  author = {Akoev IG and Mel'nikov VM and Usachev AV and Kozhokaru AF and},
  title = {Modification of lethal radiation injury in mice by postradiation exposure to low-intensity centimeter-band radio frequency waves},
  year = {1994},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/7951901},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed mice to lethal doses of gamma radiation, then immediately treated them with low-intensity radiofrequency waves (2-27 GHz) for up to 23 hours. The RF-treated mice showed improved survival rates and lived longer than untreated mice. This suggests that certain RF frequencies might have protective biological effects under extreme conditions.