Decreased Body Weight in Fetal Rats After Irradiation With 2450-MHz (CW) Microwaves

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Abstract
Female Sprague-Dawley (CD) rats were exposed to 2450-MHz (continuous wave) microwave radiation at incident power densities of 0 or 40 mW/cm2 (SAR [specific absorption ratio] = 6.0 W/kg) for 100 min daily on the 6th through 15th day of gestation. One-time exposure to the same conditions increased average colonic temperatures 2.degree. C at the end of irradiation in pregnant rats of similar size. There were 23 sham-irradiated and 24 microwave-irradiated females. When these groups were compared on the 21st day of gestation, no significant differences were found in pregnancy rates; in the numbers of live, dead or total fetuses; nor in the incidences of external, visceral or skeletal anomalies or variations. However, mean fetal body weight was significantly (P = 0.0008) lower after microwave irradiation and was 9% less than that of sham-irradiated litters. Sternal ossification was significantly delayed in the microwave-irradiated fetuses (P = 0.0007). Even though a change in the malformation rate is not effected in rats, a fetotoxic effect does occur due to microwave-exposure conditions which raise maternal rectal temperatures to .apprx. 40.degree. C and produce a specific absorption rate (SAR) .gtoreq. 6 W/kg in the dam.