EFFECTS OF MICROWAVE-RADIATION ON BACTERIA ESCHERICHIA-COLI B R AND ESCHERICHIA-COLI B-S-1/

Thermal and electromagnetic (specific) effects in responses of bacteri al strains Escherichia coli B/r and E. coli B-S-1 to high-power microw ave (frequency, 7 GHz; SAR, 200 W/kg) were studied. It was demonstrate d that both microwave heating and equal thermal heating of E. coli B/r and E. coli B-S-1 cells resulted in a loss of viability and damage of permeability of membranes to nucleotides. But the injurious action of microwave heat was greater than that of equal thermal heat alone. The se results illustrate the existence of an electromagnetic action of a microwave field to the bacterial cell organisms distinguished from the usual heat effects.