Quantitative changes in potassium, sodium, and calcium in the submaxillary salivary gland and blood serum of rats exposed to 2880-MHz microwave radiation.

Na+, K+, and Ca2+ concentrations in the blood serum and submaxillary salivary gland (SSG) were investigated in adult, male rats exposed to 2880-MHz microwaves modulated with 1.5-mus pulses at a pulse repetition rate of 1000 Hz or in a hyperthermal environment. Rats were exposed, one at a time, for 30 min to microwaves producing a specific absorption rate (SAR) of: 4.2, 6.3, 6.8, 8.4, 10.8, or 12.6 W/kg, or were sham exposed under similar environmental conditions. In a second series, one group of rats was exposed singly for 15, 30, or 60 min to microwaves producing an SAR of 9.5 W/kg and other rats were exposed for similar periods at 40 degrees C; and 10 rats were sham exposed. Flame photometric analysis indicated that the thresholds of microwave radiation required to induce a change in Na+, K+, and Ca2+ concentrations in the salivary glands are 6.8, 6.8, and 6.3 W/kg, respectively. The directions of Na+, K+, and Ca2+ ion shifts in exposed rats' salivary glands are similar, whether affected by microwaves or hyperthermia. Greater changes in Na+ and K+ concentrations in SSG of rats exposed to microwaves for 15 and 30 min were found than in those exposed at 40 degrees C. On the other hand, exposure to hyperthermia at 40 degrees C or to microwaves for 1 h caused Na+ concentration to be increased by 68.7 and 59.5% and K+ concentration to be decreased by 29.6 and 21.7%, respectively.