ID Number		655
Study Type		In Vivo
Model		2450 MHz (CW) exposure to mice and analysis of teratogenicity in combination with ara-C
Details		Swiss mice (pregnant dams) were injected with ara-C and exposed to 2450 MHz (CW) MW on days 1-18 of gestation for 2 hr/day at estimated whole body average SARs of 0. 5, 5, and 18 W/kg) in an anechoic chamber (described in Szmigielski et al, Bioelectromagnetics 1982, 3:179-191). External exposure at 0.5 and 5 W/kg (reportedly non-thermal) resulted in a lowering of body mass of the newborns, but no additional teratogenic effects. Exposures at 18 W/kg increased the incidence of resorptions and ara-C malformations (cleft palate and/or cleft lip). When exposure was performed intrauterine, resorptions and increased ara-C malformations were observed at 0.5 and 5 W/kg. In animals exposed at 5 or 18 W/kg, 20% of fetuses showed anomalies of extremities and tail that were not observed with ara-C or MW alone. The authors conclude that MW exposure can act in combination with other factors as a co-teratogenic agent. In prior studies, pregnant Swiss mice were exposed to 2450 MHz (CW) fields for 2 h/d for various periods of the gestational period including the first 4 d, the first 7 d, days 8-18 and days 1-18 (entire gestational period) at 5 W/kg or 18 W/kg. Free-roaming mice (10/cage) were exposed. The exposure at 18 W/kg caused a 1.5-2.0 C increase in rectal temperature; the lower exposure caused no detectable increase in temperature. The higher exposure level caused a) significant inhibition of the embryonic and fetal development in utero, accompanied by an increased incidence of intrafetal bleedings, resorptions and deaths of fetuses and b) markedly depressed nonspecific resistance to viral and bacterial infections in pups of dams exposed for the whole period of gestation. No such effects were found at exposure at 5 W/kg. The authors concluded that their results clearly indicate that exposures of pregnant mice to thermal dose rates of microwave energy are detrimental to the growth and development of embryo and fetus.
Findings		Effects (only at thermal levels)
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Microwave Safety Military Inst Hygiene, Poland - smigielski@whihe.wav.pl
Funding Agency		AF, Poland
Country		POLAND
References		Marcickiewicz, J et al. Biol. Neonate, (1986) 50:75-82 Chazan, B et al. Biol. Neonate, (1983) 44:339-348
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