The effect of microwave radiation on passive membrane properties of snail neurons.

PAPER pubmed The Journal of microwave power 1981 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1080/16070658.1981.11689217 PMID: 6787208 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The effect of CW microwaves (2450-MHz, rate of energy absorption, 15.5 mW/g) on passive properties of neurons of the Helix snail was studied. After one hour of exposure, the electrical resistance and the time constant of the membrane diminished, respectively, by 22 and 26%. Irradiation against the background of injection of EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetra-acidic acid) into the cell blocked the change in membrane resistance. In contrast, injection of DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol) into the cell qualitatively mimiced the microwave effect.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Helix snail neurons

Sample size

—

Exposure

microwave · 2450 MHz · 15.5 W/kg · 1 hour

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 1 hour of continuous-wave 2450 MHz exposure (energy absorption rate 15.5 mW/g), membrane electrical resistance and membrane time constant decreased by 22% and 26%, respectively. EDTA injection into the cell blocked the change in membrane resistance, while DNP injection qualitatively mimicked the microwave effect.

Outcomes measured

Membrane electrical resistance
Membrane time constant

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Only passive membrane properties assessed; broader functional/behavioral outcomes not described
Potential confounding by intracellular injections (EDTA, DNP) and their interaction with exposure conditions not fully described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 2450,
        "sar_wkg": 15.5,
        "duration": "1 hour"
    },
    "population": "Helix snail neurons",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Membrane electrical resistance",
        "Membrane time constant"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After 1 hour of continuous-wave 2450 MHz exposure (energy absorption rate 15.5 mW/g), membrane electrical resistance and membrane time constant decreased by 22% and 26%, respectively. EDTA injection into the cell blocked the change in membrane resistance, while DNP injection qualitatively mimicked the microwave effect.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Only passive membrane properties assessed; broader functional/behavioral outcomes not described",
        "Potential confounding by intracellular injections (EDTA, DNP) and their interaction with exposure conditions not fully described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "continuous-wave",
        "2450 MHz",
        "SAR",
        "snail",
        "Helix",
        "neurons",
        "membrane resistance",
        "time constant",
        "EDTA",
        "2,4-dinitrophenol"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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