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Description
This study investigated the effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) on body temperature, comparing continuous and intermittent exposure modes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=58) were exposed to a 915 MHz LTE signal in a small-animal reverberation chamber. The whole-body specific absorption rate (wbSAR) was set at levels sufficient to induce a temperature increase of more than 1°C. A temperature transponder (IPTT-300) was subcutaneously implanted in the interscapular region three days before exposure. For continuous exposure, rats were divided into four groups (0 W/kg, n=6; 4, 6, and 8 W/kg, n=6 each) and exposed for 9 hours. For intermittent exposure, two groups (0 W/kg, n=4; 8 W/kg, n=6) were exposed for 10 hours in a 10-minute on/off cycle. Body core temperature was measured rectally, while interscapular subcutaneous temperature was monitored non-invasively using the transponder. Measurements were taken hourly in the continuous exposure groups and every two hours in the intermittent exposure groups. There was no significant difference between rectal and interscapular subcutaneous temperatures in terms of absolute values and dynamics. However, the pattern of temperature change differed between continuous and intermittent exposure, despite an overall temperature increase in all rats exposed to 8 W/kg wbSAR. In conclusion, body temperature dynamics were influenced by the mode of RF exposure. The interscapular subcutaneous temperature closely reflected the rectal core temperature. This consistency of thermal responses across the two measurement sites led us to consider the possibility of non-invasive measurement alternatives.
