RF RADIATION-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT OF MICE

The possible effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation on prenatal deve lopment has been investigated in mice. This study consisted of RF leve l measurements and in vivo experiments at several places around an ''a ntenna park.'' At these locations RF power densities between 168 nW/cm (2) and 1053 nW/cm(2) were measured. Twelve pairs of mice, divided in two groups, were placed in locations of different power densities and were repeatedly mated five times. One hundred eighteen newborns were c ollected. They were measured, weighed, and examined macro- and microsc opically. A progressive sive decrease in the number of newborns per da m was observed, which ended in irreversible infertility. The prenatal development of the newborns, however, evaluated by the crown-rump leng th, the body weight, and the number of the lumbar, sacral, and coccyge al vertebrae, was improved. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.