Understanding physical mechanism of low-level microwave radiation effect

Abstract

Purpose: This topic review aims to explain the mechanism of low-level microwave (MW) radiation effect based on published research results. The review presents the analysis of theoretical and experimental results comprising underlying physics and derived biological-physiological consequences supported by experimental data.

Conclusions: The rotation of dipolar molecules causes polarization of dielectric medium and restructuring of hydrogen bonds between these molecules. The weakened hydrogen bonds decrease viscosity and enhance diffusion at constant temperature. All steps of proposed model have no critical frequency restrictions at MW frequencies and have been confirmed by electromagnetic field (EMF) theory and/or published experimental results. The synchronous cumulative impact of coherent MW electric field makes possible the field-induced effect despite the field strengths are much weaker than intermolecular fields. The rotation of dipolar molecules results in restructuring hydrogen bonds between the molecules despite the energy of MW radiation is much less than the energy of bonding. The cumulative impact of coherent MW field in a medium has been convincingly confirmed by the measurable dielectric permittivity of the medium. The described mechanism of MW field-induced effect confirms that the nature of the effect differs from the thermal effect and that the exposure by MW radiation can create the specific consequences in biology and materials not characteristic for conventional heating.

Keywords:

• Rotation of molecules
• orientational polarization
• hydrogen bond
• diffusion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded partly by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research under Institutional Research financing IUT 19-2 and by the Estonian Centre of Excellence in IT (EXCITE) funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Notes on contributors

Hiie Hinrikus

Hiie Hinrikus, PhD, DSc, is Professor Emeritus experienced in radio physics, microwave and biomedical engineering.

Maie Bachmann

Maie Bachmann, PhD, is Professor of Biosignals Processing.

Jaanus Lass

Jaanus Lass, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, has experience in biomedical engineering.