Depression of phagocytosis: a non-thermal effect of microwave radiation as a potential hazard to health.

SummaryThe widespread use of microwave equipment presents potential hazards to health from inadvertent exposure. The hazards due to the heating effect of microwaves are well recognized. Recent evidence suggests that microwave radiation produces other biological effects that are not in any way due to heating. Experiments were performed to investigate the non-thermal effects of microwaves on the process of phagocytosis. Monolayer cultures of mouse macrophages on cover-slips were perfused with suspensions of human red blood cells while being exposed to microwave radiation of 2450 MHz frequency, at a power level of 50 mW/cm2, under strict temperature control. Comparison of the phagocytic indices of the irradiated cultures with unirradiated control cultures demonstrated a marked depression of phagocytic activity. Further investigation showed that macrophage phagocytic activity was restored to normal if the radiation was discontinued. The potential hazards to health of this phenomenon are briefly discussed.

[1]  C. Zarafonetis,et al.  Temperature Relations in Phagocytosis , 1946, Journal of Bacteriology.

[2]  J. Heller,et al.  A New Physical Method of creating Chromosomal Aberrations , 1959, Nature.

[3]  J. Heller,et al.  The behavior of unicellular organisms in an electromagnetic field , 1960 .

[4]  R. Valentine,et al.  Factors involved in the orientation of microscopic particles in suspensions influenced by radio frequency fields. , 1962, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

[5]  I. Ohad,et al.  EFFECTS OF HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRIC FIELDS ON THE LIVING CELL. I. BEHAVIOUR OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES IN HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRIC FIELDS AND ITS RELATION TO THEIR AGE. , 1964, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[6]  W. STODOLNIK-BARAŃSKA.  Lymphoblastoid Transformation of Lymphocytes in vitro after Microwave Irradiation , 1967, Nature.

[7]  A. Stuart,et al.  A Biological Test for Injury to the Human Red Cell , 1967, Vox Sanguinis.

[8]  C. H. Powell,et al.  A review of international microwave exposure guides. , 1970, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[9]  V E Rose,et al.  Health surveillance of microwave hazards. , 1970, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[10]  H. P. Schwan,et al.  Interaction of Microwave and Radio Frequency Radiation with Biological Systems , 1971 .

[11]  S. Michaelson,et al.  Biomedical aspects of microwave exposure. , 1971, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[12]  R. L. Carpenter,et al.  Evidence For Nonthermal Effects of Microwave Radiation: Abnormal Development of Irradiated Insect Pupae , 1971 .

[13]  S. Michaelson,et al.  Biological effects of microwave radiation. , 1971, Health physics.