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MICROWAVES, HYPERTHERMIA, AND HUMAN LEUKOCYTE FUNCTION
Citation:
Roberts, Jr., N., S. Lu, AND S. Michaelson. MICROWAVES, HYPERTHERMIA, AND HUMAN LEUKOCYTE FUNCTION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-81/041.
Description:
The objective of this study is to determine whether exposure to microwaves (2450 MHz) affects the function of human leukocytes in the resting state and during antigenic or mitogenic challenge. This publication is a summary report of the construction and calibration of a waveguide exposure facility for in vitro irradiation of human leukocytes. Calorimetric determinations of specific absorption rates (SAR) were made using heating curves measured with a microwave transparent Vitek 101 Electrothermia Monitor. The correlation between SAR and forward power was highly significant (r=0.95). At a forward power of 0.55 W the average SAR was approximately 33 mW/ml. However, inhomogeneity and significant resonance absorption were noted in the dual vial waveguide exposure facility. A 30-point measurement of SAR distribution revealed that the SAR at any of the measured points could range between 0.12- and 3.94-fold of the average SAR within the given vial. Measurements indicated that this variability in SAR values did not create significant thermal gradients within the vials when external agitation was applied.