Membrane Damage of Human Red Blood Cells Induced by Low-Power Microwave Irradiation

The effect of low-level, 2.45 GHz microwaves on human erythrocyte membrane was studied by measuring the induced hemolysis of the exposed erythrocytes at different power densities (0.025-10.000 mW/cm2). A significant increase of the hemoglobin loss by the microwave-exposed erythrocytes compared to controls was observed. Red blood cell count was essentially the same in irradiated and control samples while the mean cellular hemoglobin concentration decreased in the exposed samples. These observations indicate that the hemoglobin loss from the microwave-irradiated cells is due to the membrane permeabilization of the exposed erythrocytes rather than to their lysis.