Radio and microwave radiation and experimental atherosclerosis

The effect of radio and microwave radiation on dietary atherosclerosis of rabbits was tested. 16 New Zealand white rabbits were exposed to microwave (2.45 GHz) radiation at a power density of 20--30 mW/cm2 for 4 h a day, 5 days a week for 8 to 10 weeks. Irradiated animals had serum cholesterol concentrations, aortic wall cholesterol concentrations and percentage of intimal surface involved in atherosclerotic lesions which were not different from age and weight matched controls. Continuous radio frequency irradiation (1 MHz) for 8 to 11 weeks with a field strength of 30 V/cm also failed to change these indices of atherogenesis. We conclude that under the conditions of these experiments radio and microwave irradiation do not affect the course of diet induced atherogenesis.