The Bioelectromagnetics Research Laboratory, University of Washington: reflections on twenty-five years of research

Studies on microwaves in medicine and biology: from snails to humans

This d'Arsonval Medal acceptance presentation highlights several research themes selected from Dr. Lin's published works, focusing on the microwave portion of the nonionizing electromagnetic spectrum. The topics discussed include investigation of microwave effects on the spontaneous action potentials and membrane resistance of isolated snail neurons, effects on the permeability of blood brain barriers in rats, the phenomenon and interaction mechanism for the microwave auditory effect (the hearing of microwave pulses by animals and humans), the development of miniature catheter antennas for microwave interstitial hyperthermia treatment of cancer, the application of transcatheter microwave ablation for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, and the use of noninvasive wireless technology for sensing of human vital signs and blood pressure pulse waves. The paper concludes with some observations on research and other endeavors in the interdisciplinary field of bioelectromagnetics.

The effects of microwave radiation from mobile telephones on humans and animals

This article presents a brief review of current mobile telecommunications systems, which represent a source of microwave pollution of the environment. It has been shown that the biological effects of radiation from cellular telephones involve the time factor for the real effects on the body. Results of studies of the biological effects of low-intensity modulated microwave irradiation, including that from cellular telephones, lead to the conclusion that irradiation does not have pathological effects on the body, but does induce the usual non-specific adaptive reactions. It is only in conditions of serious derangements of the immune system and prolonged exposure with cumulative effects that cancerogenic effects can occur in the body; as in other examples of external influences on the body, this is mediated by disruption of the balance between cellular repair systems and damage, the latter being favored. Several methods for studying low-intensity microwave irradiation are presented; these can be used for investigating its influence on psychophysiological functions in humans.