Miscarriages among female physical therapists who report using radio- and microwave-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
Ouellet-Hellstrom R, Stewart WF · 1993
View Original AbstractPhysical therapists using microwave diathermy equipment had up to 59% higher miscarriage rates, suggesting pregnancy vulnerability to microwave radiation exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers surveyed over 42,000 physical therapists to examine whether occupational exposure to microwave diathermy equipment affected pregnancy outcomes. They found that women who used microwave diathermy units during the six months before conception or during the first trimester had a 28% higher risk of miscarriage, with risk increasing to 59% for those with the highest exposure levels (20 or more uses per month). Interestingly, shortwave diathermy equipment showed no increased risk.
Why This Matters
This 1993 study provides important evidence that microwave radiation exposure during critical periods of pregnancy can affect fetal development. The dose-response relationship - where higher exposure levels correlated with higher miscarriage rates - strengthens the biological plausibility of these findings. What makes this research particularly relevant today is that the microwave frequencies used in diathermy equipment overlap with those used in modern wireless devices, though at much higher power levels. The science demonstrates that timing of exposure matters critically, with the period around conception and early pregnancy showing particular vulnerability. This adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that pregnant women should minimize EMF exposure during these sensitive developmental windows.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
Recent studies suggest that use of shortwave diathermy is associated with an excess risk of birth defects, perinatal deaths, and late spontaneous abortions among the offspring of exposed female therapists. To assess the impact of occupational use of microwave and shortwave diathermy at the time of conception, the authors mailed questionnaires to 42,403 physical therapists in 1989.
Both occupational and reproductive histories were obtained. Exposures to shortwave and microwave dia...
Pregnancies of mothers reporting microwave use 6 months prior to the pregnancy or during the first t...
Show BibTeX
@article{r_1993_miscarriages_among_female_physical_2493,
author = {Ouellet-Hellstrom R and Stewart WF},
title = {Miscarriages among female physical therapists who report using radio- and microwave-frequency electromagnetic radiation.},
year = {1993},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8237966/},
}