Teratologic Studies of Prenatal Exposure of Rats to 915-MHz Microwave Radiation

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Abstract
Pregnant Wistar albino rats [39] were used to determine possible teratogenic activity due to chronic exposure with microwave radiation at a field intensity of a 10 mW/cm2 at a frequency of 915-MHz microwave radiation. Ten rats were irradiated in a fully characterized anechoic chamber from days 1 to 21 of gestation. The results of preliminary studies using 20 pregnant rats indicated that this power density was the maximal level which did not cause increased rectal temperature. Pregnant females [29] were used as control animals. On the 22nd day of gestation animals were killed and maternal brain, liver, kidneys and ovaries were removed, examined, weighed and fixed in buffered formalin. Fetuses and placentae were removed, examined, weighed and fixed in Bouin''s fixative. All fetuses were examined for malformations by using a cross-section dissection methodology. No significant alterations were observed for the following parameters: maternal body weight and weight gain, term maternal organ weight and organ/body weight ratios, resorption rate, abnormality rate, mean term litter size or mean term fetal weight. No significant teratogenic activity was observed in these criteria, due to chronic exposure of pregnant rats to 915-MHz continuous wave microwave radiation at a 10 mW/cm2 density.