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Cardiovascular

Ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses induced hypotension in rats.

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Lu ST, Mathur SP, Akyel Y, Lee JC · 1999

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Six minutes of ultrawide-band pulse exposure caused persistent low blood pressure in rats lasting up to four weeks.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed rats to ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses (a type of radar technology) for just 6 minutes and measured their blood pressure for up to 4 weeks afterward. The exposed rats developed persistent low blood pressure (hypotension) that lasted for weeks, while their heart rate remained normal. This suggests that brief exposure to these high-intensity electromagnetic pulses can cause lasting cardiovascular effects.

Why This Matters

This study reveals a concerning cardiovascular response to ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses, a technology increasingly used in radar and communication systems. The finding that just 6 minutes of exposure caused hypotension lasting up to 4 weeks demonstrates how brief EMF exposure can trigger persistent biological changes. What makes this particularly significant is that the blood pressure reduction was described as 'robust, consistent, and persistent' across all exposed animals. The exposure levels used (SAR of 70-121 mW/kg) are within ranges that could occur occupationally or in military settings where UWB technology is deployed. While this specific pulse technology isn't found in consumer devices, the research adds to growing evidence that electromagnetic fields can profoundly affect cardiovascular function through mechanisms we're still working to understand.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.07 W/kg
Electric Field
93000 V/m
Source/Device
0.5-kHz

Exposure Context

This study used 93000 V/m for electric fields:

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 ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.07 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Severe Concern rangeFCC limit is 23x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 500 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 500 HzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses induced hypotension in rats.

Functional indices of the cardiovascular system (heart rate, systolic, mean, and diastolic pressures...

Significant decrease in arterial blood pressures (hypotension) was found. In contrast, heart rate wa...

Cite This Study
Lu ST, Mathur SP, Akyel Y, Lee JC (1999). Ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses induced hypotension in rats. Physiol Behav 65(4-5):753-761, 1999; Corrected and republished in Physiol Behav;67(3):753-761, 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{st_1999_ultrawideband_electromagnetic_pulses_induced_1164,
  author = {Lu ST and Mathur SP and Akyel Y and Lee JC},
  title = {Ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses induced hypotension in rats.},
  year = {1999},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10497968/},
}
PubMed: 10497968

Cited By (39 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Research shows ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses (used in radar technology) can cause persistent low blood pressure in laboratory studies. Rats exposed for just 6 minutes developed hypotension lasting weeks, while heart rate remained normal, suggesting specific cardiovascular effects from brief high-intensity exposures.
Yes, certain types of electromagnetic radiation can affect blood pressure. A 1999 study found that ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses caused significant, lasting decreases in arterial blood pressure in exposed rats. The hypotension persisted for weeks after just 6 minutes of exposure.
Research indicates pulsed electromagnetic fields may impact cardiovascular function. One study showed ultrawide-band pulses caused persistent low blood pressure in rats without affecting heart rate, suggesting these exposures can create lasting cardiovascular changes through mechanisms beyond direct cardiac effects.
Radar exposure may pose cardiovascular risks based on laboratory research. Studies show ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses can cause persistent hypotension (low blood pressure) lasting weeks after brief exposure. However, more research is needed to understand implications for human health and occupational exposure.
EMF exposure can impact blood circulation by affecting blood pressure regulation. Research demonstrates that ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses cause significant, persistent decreases in arterial blood pressure without changing heart rate, indicating EMFs may disrupt cardiovascular control mechanisms rather than direct cardiac function.