No abstract

The cataractogenic effect of exposure to microwaves has been reported by several authors. Effects on the central nervous system also have been discussed. Whether the effect is thermal in origin or nonthermal is not known. In this paper the authors show that in a factory where radarand other microwave equipment was tested, an overrepresentation of lens opacities could be observed in personnel in the lower age groups. Furthermore, it was noted that changes in the retina resembling chorioretinal scars were present in a significant number of workers.K e y words: microwaveselectronic ovenradarradio frequencycataractchorioretinitisradiationlens opacitiesretinal lesions.During the past quarter century there has been marked development and increased utilization of devices and equipment for industrial and medical applications as well as for military use that emit a large variety of non ionizing radiant energy. Microwaves have come into use primarily in the military field but also as diathermia in medical therapy and for consumer's use in cooking. Today microwave emittors are widespread. The electromagnetic radiation characterized as microwaves has a wavelength between 0.3 mm and 300 cm, corresponding to 106-1012 Hz. T h e microwave energy can be propagated either pulsed or as a continuous wave (CW).