CONTINUOUS MILLIMETER-WAVE RADIATION HAS NO EFFECT ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN LIPOSOMES

The effect of millimeter waves on lipid peroxidation was studied in th e presence and absence of melanin, Irradiation of liposomes with conti nuous millimeter electromagnetic waves at frequencies of 53.6, 61.2 an d 78.2 GHz and incident power densities of 10, 1 and 500 mW/cm(2), res pectively, did not show an enhancement in the formation of lipid perox ides compared to unirradiated samples, Liposomes exposed to 254 nm UVC radiation at 0.32 mW/cm(2) and 302 nm UVB radiation at 1.12 mW/cm(2) served as positive controls, No increment in the formation of lipid pe roxides was observed when irradiation of liposomes was carried out in the presence of ADP-Fe+3 and EDTA-Fe+3. Direct irradiation of melanin with millimeter waves did not exhibit an increased formation of supero xide or hydrogen peroxide, The present results indicate that millimete r waves of the above frequencies and intensities do not cause lipid pe roxidation in liposomal membranes. (C) 1996 by Radiation Research Soci ety