Electromagnetic millimeter waves increase the duration of anaesthesia caused by ketamine and chloral hydrate in mice.
Rojavin MA, Ziskin MC · 1997
View Original AbstractMillimeter wave radiation at 61.22 GHz triggered opioid release in mouse brains, extending anesthesia duration by 50%.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed anesthetized mice to millimeter wave radiation at 61.22 GHz and found it extended the duration of anesthesia by approximately 50%. The effect was blocked when mice were pretreated with naloxone (an opioid blocker), suggesting the radiation triggers the release of the body's natural opioids. This demonstrates that millimeter wave exposure can directly alter brain chemistry and nervous system function.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a concerning biological mechanism: millimeter wave radiation can directly manipulate brain chemistry by triggering endogenous opioid release. The 61.22 GHz frequency falls within the range used by emerging 5G networks and military applications. What makes this research particularly significant is the clear dose-response relationship and the clever use of naloxone to identify the specific biological pathway involved. The science demonstrates that these frequencies don't just heat tissue - they actively interfere with neurotransmitter systems that regulate pain, mood, and consciousness. While the exposure levels (420 W/kg SAR) exceed typical consumer device limits, they're within ranges possible from focused beams or multiple device exposure. This adds to growing evidence that millimeter waves have distinct biological effects beyond simple heating.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 420 W/kg
- Power Density
- 15 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 61.22 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 15 min
Exposure Context
This study used 15 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 1,500Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 25Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
This study used 420 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 1.1Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
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 Details
To investigate electromagnetic millimeter waves increase the duration of anaesthesia caused by ketamine and chloral hydrate in mice
BALB/c mice were injected i.p. with either ketamine 80 mg/kg or chloral hydrate 450 mg/kg. Anaesthet...
In combination with either of the anaesthetics used, mm waves increased the duration of anaesthesia ...
The data in this study indicates that exposure of mice to mm waves in vivo releases endogenous opioids or enhances the activity of opioid signalling pathway.
Show BibTeX
@article{ma_1997_electromagnetic_millimeter_waves_increase_1297,
author = {Rojavin MA and Ziskin MC},
title = {Electromagnetic millimeter waves increase the duration of anaesthesia caused by ketamine and chloral hydrate in mice.},
year = {1997},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9343112/},
}