Effect of low power microwave on the mouse genome: a direct DNA analysis.
Sarkar S, Ali S, Behari J · 1994
View Original AbstractDNA changes occurred in mice exposed to 2.45 GHz radiation at levels considered safe for public exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mice to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used in WiFi and microwave ovens) at power levels considered safe for public exposure. After 4-7 months of daily exposure, they found distinct changes to DNA patterns in both brain and testis tissue compared to unexposed mice. The study is significant because it detected genetic alterations at exposure levels currently deemed safe by international radiation protection guidelines.
Why This Matters
This 1994 study represents early evidence that microwave radiation can alter DNA structure at supposedly safe exposure levels. The researchers used 1 mW/cm² power density, which falls within current safety guidelines but is actually higher than typical WiFi exposure (usually 0.1-1 mW/cm² at close range). What makes this research particularly noteworthy is that it examined genetic effects using direct DNA analysis rather than indirect markers. The finding of altered DNA band patterns in both brain and reproductive tissue suggests that microwave radiation may have broader biological effects than previously recognized. The authors themselves noted that their results 'may imply a need for (re)evaluation of the mutagenic potential of microwaves at the prescribed safe limit.' Three decades later, this call for reassessment remains largely unheeded despite mounting evidence of biological effects at non-thermal exposure levels.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 1 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 2.45 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 h/day for 120, 150 and 200 days.
Exposure Context
This study used 1 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 100Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 1.7Mx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
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
The potential mutagenic effect of low power microwave at the DNA sequence level in the mouse genome was evaluated by direct DNA analysis.
Animals were exposed to microwave at a power density of 1 mW/cm2 for 2 h/day at a frequency of 2.45 ...
As compared to control animals, band patterns in exposed animals were found to be distinctly altered...
Show BibTeX
@article{s_1994_effect_of_low_power_1310,
author = {Sarkar S and Ali S and Behari J},
title = {Effect of low power microwave on the mouse genome: a direct DNA analysis.},
year = {1994},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7506381/},
}