Abstract
The aim of the study was to establish whether irradiation of rats during organogenesis with 27.12 MHz pulsed shortwave radiation from a shortwave diathermy unit at an exposure level which resulted in no measurable increase in maternal core temperature could cause embryopathic effects. The data demonstrate an embryolethal effect without a significant increase in rectal temperature. This effect was greatest in rats irradiated for 60 min at 10 Hz (SAR = 2.8 W/kg), using an Erbe Erbotherm HOOP shortwave diathermy unit; 20.4% implantations were resorb-ed compared to 7.4% in the sham-irradiated control rats. Longer durations of exposure at lower pulse repetition frequencies resulted in a greater percentage of resorptions than shorter durations at higher frequencies.