Overview
Neural effects of both high and low intensity microwave and radio frequency fields can be observed at the level of the cell, tissue, organ, or total organism. The neural effects of these factors appear to be complex in nature, involving not only basic neural structures but also associated neurohumoral, psychological, and other factors.
Eastern Findings: Persistent Evidence of Neural Effects
Soviet and East European investigators continue to find direct bioelectric evidence of the effects of both low and high intensity microwaves. Key findings include:
Behavioral Changes
Behavioral changes are reported in response to low intensity microwaves (0.5 to 10 mW/cm²). These changes are accompanied by depressed brain chemical activity (cholinesterase), and reversible lesions of cortical neurons, synapses, and neuroglia.Functional disturbances at higher levels of the CNS are thought to be the result of lowered cortical tonus and altered integrative functions of central and subcortical parts of the brain. Both functional and morphological changes to low intensity microwaves appear to be reversible, and of a non-specific nature, compared to reactions to a variety of stresses.
Morphological Changes at Cellular Level
Morphological changes at the nerve cell level are a persistent finding in Soviet studies. Such changes are noted as a result of exposure of animals to power densities of from 0.06 to 20 μW/cm² in the microwave and radio frequency range in some studies.Bioelectric Evidence
Studies of rabbits and rats exposed to 2 to 3 GHz microwaves at power densities of between 0.15 and 14 nW/cm showed that lower power densities produced different EEC responses than higher power densities, indicating selective sensitivity based on exposure intensity.Pharmacological Analyses
Pharmacological analyses indicate that microwave effects depend on the activating influence of the ascending part of the reticular formation. Soviet and East European studies of personnel and animals chronically exposed to low intensity microwaves have revealed altered responses to neurotropic drugs.Histological Changes
Histological changes in nerve cells in response to exposure to microwaves are documented, with quantitative changes found in neurosecretory granules in cells of hypothalamic centers. This prompts speculation that the harmful effects of microwaves on endocrine functions in general might be of hypothalamic origin.Metabolic Effects
Microwaves at both low and high intensity alter the uptake of phosphorus in nerve tissue, and alter metabolic processes. Quantitative changes have been found in neurosecretory granules in cells of hypothalamic centers in animals exposed to low intensity microwave radiation.Western Findings: Emerging Evidence
There has been a recent trend in Western countries, most notably the United States, to investigate the biological effects of microwave and radio-frequency radiation below a power density of 10 mW/cm². While initially unsuccessful in repeating Eastern findings under laboratory conditions, some Western investigators are beginning to obtain certain functional and morphological data suggestive of Soviet and East European findings.
Neural Function Studies
- Cats exposed to 147 MHz fields at 1 mW/cm² exhibited altered spontaneous and conditioned EEC patterns.
- In neonatal chick brains, modulation rates lower than 9 Hz and higher than 20 Hz did not alter tagged calcium ion efflux. Exposure to fields modulated at 9, 11, 16, and 20 Hz resulted in a 10 to 20 percent increase in calcium ion efflux.
- Rats exposed to 3 to 11 GHz microwaves at a power density of 1 mW/cm² exhibited no significant changes in the spontaneous electrical activity of the brain.
Behavioral Changes
Rats exposed to a pulsed 9.4 GHz field with an average power density of only 0.7 mW/cm² revealed some behavioral changes, though the short duration of modulated pulses used suggests animals might have been exposed to rather high peak power doses in excess of 10 mW/cm².Cellular and Molecular Effects
- Aplysia pacemaker preparations exposed to 1.5 to 2.45 GHz fields showed occasional functional changes, most reproducible by simple heating, though some firing pattern changes were not thermally reproducible.
- Various changes in EEC patterns of rabbits have been observed after exposures to 9.3 GHz microwaves at power densities between 0.7 and 2.8 mW/cm².
Selective Sensitivity
There is evidence from both Eastern and Western laboratories that radio frequency and microwave fields are selective in their neural tissue effects. That is, some neural targets are more sensitive to both low- and high-intensity fields than others.
Reversibility
It is generally agreed that low-level radio frequency and microwave neural effects are reversible. Only in clinical studies of the East, involving prolonged (i.e., 2 to 6 year) occupational exposure to low level fields, is there any suggestion of long-lasting, persistent effects.
Emerging Consensus
Evidence in the East and West is accumulating that radio frequency and microwave fields have rather immediate and spontaneous effects which are reinforced by continued exposure. While there is no unanimous international agreement as to mechanisms, a number of trends seem to be emerging:
1. Radio frequency and microwave fields are selective in their neural tissue effects.
2. Responses to microwaves appear to be of a non-specific nature, with radio frequency, microwave, magnetic, electrostatic, and possibly even ionizing radiations at various high and low power levels having rather similar effects on neural targets that do not differ significantly from other stress factors.
3. Low-level field influences may interact between glial and neuronal cells of the nervous system.
4. Neural effects appear to be complex, involving basic neural structures as well as associated neurohumoral, psychological, and other factors.
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