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THERMAL REGULATION IN LONG-EVANS RATS EXPOSED TO 2450 MHZ MICROWAVE RADIATION

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W.M. Houk, S.M. Michaelson, A. Longacre Jr. · 1973

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2450 MHz microwave radiation caused fever-like temperature increases in rats, demonstrating measurable biological stress from microwave energy exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed 400 young male rats to 2450 MHz microwave radiation at various power levels and measured their internal body temperature. The study found that microwave exposure caused significant increases in core body temperature, similar to fever, with effects related to both power level and exposure duration.

Why This Matters

This 1973 study reveals a fundamental biological response to microwave radiation that remains relevant today. The researchers found that 2450 MHz microwaves - the same frequency used in microwave ovens and some WiFi systems - caused measurable increases in core body temperature in rats. What makes this particularly significant is that these effects occurred at power densities (9-36 mW/cm²) that, while higher than typical consumer device exposures, demonstrate the body's thermal response to microwave energy. The study's finding that equilibration times of up to three hours were needed suggests the body's regulatory systems were working overtime to manage this artificial heating. This research provides early evidence that microwave radiation creates biological stress through thermal mechanisms, challenging the assumption that non-ionizing radiation effects are always negligible.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
W.M. Houk, S.M. Michaelson, A. Longacre Jr. (1973). THERMAL REGULATION IN LONG-EVANS RATS EXPOSED TO 2450 MHZ MICROWAVE RADIATION.
Show BibTeX
@article{thermal_regulation_in_long_evans_rats_exposed_to_2450_mhz_microwave_radiation_g3672,
  author = {W.M. Houk and S.M. Michaelson and A. Longacre Jr.},
  title = {THERMAL REGULATION IN LONG-EVANS RATS EXPOSED TO 2450 MHZ MICROWAVE RADIATION},
  year = {1973},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, the study found that 2450 MHz microwave exposure caused significant increases in colonic temperature in rats, creating fever-like effects that were related to both power density and exposure duration.
Rats required equilibration times of up to three hours in the experimental chamber to avoid masking temperature elevations, suggesting prolonged thermal regulatory stress from microwave exposure.
The researchers tested power densities of 9, 18, and 36 mW/cm² of 2450 MHz continuous wave microwave radiation, all of which produced measurable temperature responses in the rats.
Using 400 unrestrained rats allowed researchers to study natural thermal regulation responses without the stress of physical restraint, providing more accurate data on how microwave radiation affects body temperature control.
Unlike fever from illness or injected substances, microwave radiation creates unique volume heating throughout the body, allowing researchers to study thermal effects without the complications of other fever-inducing methods.