Microwave Radiation and Genetic Effects

The following chapter on microwave radiation and genetic effects is an excerpt from Chapter 8, "Man Made Electromagnetic Fields", of the book "Cross Currents: the
Perils of Electrical Pollution" by Robert O. Becker.

Microwaves and Genetic Effects

While Heller’s and Teixeiera-Pinto’s garlic-root tips seemed to be a long way away from the human being, mice are uncomfortably closer.  In 1983, doctors E. Manikowska-Czerska, P. Czerska, and W. Leach of FDA’s center for Devices and Radiological Health reported the effect on the reproductive cells of male mice of exposure to microwaves.  They found that sperm production decreased with a short exposure (thirty minutes per day for 2 weeks) to a no thermal level of microwaves, and that this was accompanied by significant abnormal changes in the structure of the chromosomes of the sperm.  In addition, when the exposed male mice were mated with unexposed females, a significant increase in fetal loss was found  The researchers concluded that chromosomal abnormalities were produced by the microwave exposure at dose rates far below those producing a heating effect.  Furthermore, they notes that the mechanism appeared to be a direct effect of the microwaves on the chromosomes themselves.

The most overt expression of genetic defects in human beings is the birth of a child with developmental defects.  It is popularly believed that this can only occur if someone in the family has had a similar defect, which has been inherited by the child.  However, this is not true.  Chromosomal changes in the germ cells or the fetus can be produced by external causes.

In a recent study, doctors Kathryn Nelson and Lewis Holmes of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital surveyed 69, 277 newborn infants and identified 48 with major developmental malformations.  Of these, 16 had no family history of such problems, and the malformations thus appeared to be the result of spontaneous mutations.  Since the infants surveyed were born during the years 1972-1975 and 1979-1985, it appears at this time that at least 30 percent of genetic developmental defects in human infants are the
result of some external cause.  Ionizing radiation (X-ray, for example) is one such cause.  The work of Heller and Manikowska-Czerska et al. suggests
that abnormal electromagnetic radiation may have the same effect.

In that light, the reports of a relationship between Down’s syndrome (a specific chromosomal abnormality) and microwaves are interesting.  In 1965, Dr. A.T. Sigler reported in the Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital that children born to fathers who were military radar operators had a significantly higher incidence of this disease.  Twelve years later, Dr. B.H. Cohen, also of Johns Hopkins, reported that further study did not confirm these findings but concluded that the link between microwaves and Down’s syndrome could not be ruled out.

Over the past few years, Vernon, New Jersey, a little town of about 25,00 in the northern part of the state, has become front-page news. On the basis of the numbers of microwave transmitters, Vernon ranks fifth in the nation, behind New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco.  The incidence of Down’s syndrome cases in Vernon is nearly 1000 percent above the national average.

Investigations have been done by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and the New Jersey Department of Health on the possible link between the  excess mnircrowave exposure and the excess incidence of Down’s syndrome (and other birth defects), but nothing has been found.  The Citizen’s group that initially raised the issue charges that the inestigations have been botched and that the issue has been politicized. My review of the investigation reports supports the townspeople’s contention.