Ultrawide-band electromagnetic pulses induced hypotension in rats.
Lu ST, Mathur SP, Akyel Y, Lee JC · 1999
View Original AbstractSix minutes of ultrawide-band pulse exposure caused persistent low blood pressure in rats lasting up to four weeks.
Plain English Summary
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:
- 310Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.3 V/m
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 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...
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/},
}