[Hematologic changes in workers exposed to radio wave radiation].
Budinscak V, Goldoni J, Saric M · 1991
View Original AbstractRadar workers showed measurable blood cell changes from low-level microwave exposure, proving biological effects occur even within safety limits.
Plain English Summary
Croatian researchers tracked blood cell counts in 43 radar operators exposed to low-level microwave radiation for four years. They found measurable changes in several types of blood cells, including decreased red blood cells and platelets, along with increased white blood cells and lymphocytes. While the authors noted these changes weren't considered medically dangerous and appeared reversible, the study demonstrates that occupational microwave exposure can alter blood chemistry.
Why This Matters
This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that microwave radiation exposure can trigger measurable biological responses, even when those exposures fall within officially 'safe' limits. The fact that radar operators showed consistent blood cell changes over four years of exposure is particularly significant because these workers faced controlled, monitored conditions with multiple safety protections in place. What makes this research compelling is that the changes occurred at what the authors described as 'low intensity' microwave exposure. While the study authors characterized the effects as not pathologically significant, the reality is that any consistent biological change indicates your body is responding to and processing this environmental stressor. The reversible nature of most changes suggests your body has adaptive mechanisms, but it also raises questions about what happens with longer-term or higher-level exposures that many of us face daily through wireless devices.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate Hematologic changes in workers exposed to radio wave radiation
Haematological parameters were measured in 43 radar operators employed in air traffic control occupa...
The haematological changes included a decreased number of erythrocytes, reticulocytes, platelets, se...
The changes were not pathologically significant and most of them were reversible.
Show BibTeX
@article{v_1991_hematologic_changes_in_workers_1933,
author = {Budinscak V and Goldoni J and Saric M},
title = {[Hematologic changes in workers exposed to radio wave radiation].},
year = {1991},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1815491/},
}