[5-HT contents change in peripheral blood of workers exposed to microwave and high frequency radiation]

The relationship between 5-HT contents in peripheral blood and power density among workers exposed to microwave or high frequency radiation in the workshops were studied. At the same time, systems and disorder of central nervous system and cardiovascular system were examined. The results of study showed that the average 5-HT content in whole blood for high frequency radiation exposure group was lower than that of the control, but without statistical significance. Value for the microwave exposure group was significantly lower than that of the control (P less than 0.01). The 5-HT content of mechanical maintainers exposed to microwave of high frequency radiation were all lower than the contents of their corresponding control groups (P less than 0.01). But for the mechanic operators as compared with their corresponding control, no significant difference was found (P greater than 0.05). The power density exposed by the maintainers of both tested groups were all higher than that of the operators. The 5-HT contents in the whole blood were inversely proportional to the power density of microwave and high frequency groups. The incidence of neurasthenic syndrome, unsymmetric skin temperature in both limbs and hypotension was higher in the microwave and high frequency radiation groups than that in the control group. The incidence of bradycardia and some abnormal items of electrocardiograph in the microwave group was obviously greater than that in high frequency group, which may be related to different frequency exposed for these two exposure groups. Whether it is related to the contents of 5-HT needs further investigation.