Effect of Microwaves on the Eye

Birenbaum, L.; Grosof, G. M.; Rosenthal, Saul W.; Zaret, Milton M.

doi:10.1109/tbme.1969.4502597

Cited by 39 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Cataractogenesis thresholds of comparable magnitude are evident from the experimental results of others (Carpenter, 1977;Birenbaum at al., 1969;Williams at al., 1955). …”

Section: -19supporting

confidence: 61%

Environmental assessment for the satellite power system-concept development and evaluation program-microwave health and ecological effects

Nasa¹

1980

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“…Cataractogenesis thresholds of comparable magnitude are evident from the experimental results of others (Carpenter, 1977;Birenbaum at al., 1969;Williams at al., 1955). …”

Section: -19supporting

confidence: 61%

Environmental assessment for the satellite power system-concept development and evaluation program-microwave health and ecological effects

Nasa¹

1980

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“…The results of the nonhuman primate study showed that cataractogenic power density levels in rabbits and dogs should not be directly extrapolated to primates, including human beings. As discussed below, the modeling study of Taflove and Brodwin [1975] At the same average power, continuous wave (CW) and pulse wave (PW) exposures at 5.5 GHz were shown to be equally effective in producing cataracts in rabbits [Birenbaum et al, 1969a]. These authors concluded that the average, not the peak, rate of energy absorption (SAR) determined whether lens opacities occurred, which is consistent with a thermal mechanism.…”

Section: >238mentioning

confidence: 86%

Ocular effects of radiofrequency energy

Elder

2003

Bioelectromagnetics

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Radiofrequency (RF) energy has been reported to cause a variety of ocular effects, primarily cataracts but also effects on the retina, cornea, and other ocular systems. Cataracts have been observed in experimental animals when one eye was exposed to a localized, very high RF field and the other eye was the unexposed control. The results show that 2450 MHz exposures for >or=30 min at power densities causing extremely high dose rates (>or=150 W/kg) and temperatures (>or=41 degrees C) in or near the lens caused cataracts in the rabbit eye. However, cataracts were not observed in the monkey eye exposed to similar exposure conditions, reflecting the different patterns of energy absorption (SAR, specific absorption rate) distribution, due to their different facial structure. Since the monkey head is similar in structure to the human head, the nonhuman primate study showed that the incident power density levels causing cataracts in rabbits and other laboratory animals cannot be directly extrapolated to primates, including human beings. It is reasonable to assume that an SAR that would induce temperatures >or=41 degrees C in or near the lens in the human eye would produce cataracts by the same mechanism (heating) that caused cataracts in the rabbit lens; however, such an exposure would greatly exceed the currently allowable limits for human exposure and would be expected to cause unacceptable effects in other parts of the eye and face. Other ocular effects including corneal lesions, retinal effects, and changes in vascular permeability, have been observed after localized exposure of the eye of laboratory animals to both continuous wave (CW) and pulsed wave (PW) exposures, but the inconsistencies in these results, the failure to independently confirm corneal lesions after CW exposure, the failure to independently confirm retinal effects after PW exposure, and the absence of functional changes in vision are reasons why these ocular effects are not useful in defining an adverse effect level for RF exposure. While cataracts develop after localized exposure of the eye at SARs >or= 150 W/kg, whole body exposure at much lower levels (14-42 W/kg) is lethal to rabbits. Two studies reported cataracts in this animal after 30 daily exposures at SARs at the upper end of the lethal range, e.g., 38-42 W/kg; however, long term exposure of rabbits (23 h/day, 6 months) at 1.5 W/kg (17 W/kg in the rabbit head) did not cause cataracts or other ocular effects. A long term (1-4 years) investigation of monkeys exposed at high SARs (20 and 40 W/kg to the monkey face) found no cataracts or other ocular effects or change in visual capability. The results of these long term studies support the conclusion that clinically significant ocular effects, including cataracts, have not been confirmed in human populations exposed for long periods of time to low level RF energy. The results of four recent human studies show that there is no clear evidence of an association between RF exposure and ocular cancer.

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“…Microwaves have been shown to produce lens opacity in some experimental animals, notably rabbits (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36). Microwave-induced cataracts have also been reported in man (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43).…”

Section: Effects On the Ocular Lensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Exposure to Microwaves: Problems and Perspectives

Michaelson¹

1974

Environmental Health Perspectives

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During the last 25 years, there has been a remarkable development and increase in the number of processes and devices that utilize or emit microwaves. Such devices are used in all sectors of our society for military, industrial, telecommunications, and consumer applications. Although there is information on biologic effects and potential hazard to man from exposure to microwaves, considerable confusion and misinformation has permeated not only the public press but also some scientific and technical publications. The purpose of this review is to place the available information on biologic effects of microwaves in proper perspective and to suggest approaches to future studies.

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Effect of Microwaves on the Eye

Cited by 39 publications

References 10 publications

Environmental assessment for the satellite power system-concept development and evaluation program-microwave health and ecological effects

Environmental assessment for the satellite power system-concept development and evaluation program-microwave health and ecological effects

Ocular effects of radiofrequency energy

Effects of Exposure to Microwaves: Problems and Perspectives

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