Acceptable radiation leakage of microwave ovens on pregnant and newborn rat brains.
The present article was intended to investigate the possible effects of the acceptable radiation leakage of microwave ovens on pregnant and new-born rat brains. Twenty-seven pregnant Wistar-albino rats were separated into three groups (n = 9), a control group (sham-exposed) and two experimental groups. The experimental gravid rats were confined in Plexiglas cages and placed next to the closed door of a microwave oven (power-output: 550 W). The NIR 15 (NIR: non-ionising radiation) group of gravid rats were exposed to the leakage of microwave ovens daily for 15 minutes whereas the NIR 30 group was exposed daily for 30 minutes during their pregnancies. The most striking changes were observed in the NIR 30 group of rats. Congestive vessels, edema and degenerative neurones were noticed in all experimental dams. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate, and focal necrosis of neurones were seen only in the NIR 30 group of dams. Progressive edema and conspicuous congestive vessels were seen in the offspring of both experimental groups. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate, haemorrhage, necrotic neural tissues, and degenerative neurones with a reactive glial proliferation were observed only in the offspring of the NIR 30 groups.