Cataracts and Ultra-High-Frequency Radiation_j DAVI·~ G. COGAN, M.D.; STEPHEN J. FRICKER, Sc.D.; MARTIN LUBIN, M.D., Ph.D.; DAVE-· D. ~SON, M.D., and HARRIET HAR:>Y, M.D., Boston - ]) I R,.lar and communication installations The. objectiw in the present study was to are , ,aking use of increasing amounts of detennine whether or not cataracts might pow, ·. · As· a rcs~lt, military and civilian result from exposure of ·tJ1e whole body to popu':1tions· may be· expo~d to larger doses radi.ation at frequencies similar to those of r:v:io frequency ener.gy_ .. S.uch.exposui:es .... used ••in wme···higfr-power ·installations. The ·will i,e to the body as 'a~whole; The fre- . inuned_iate concern was·with a frequency in qu;n,ies used probably will range from the the range o·f 400 megacycles (Mc;).. Par­ ·ultra-high-frequency band, a(a few hundred ticular interest lay iri · comparing the dose ·111ega, ycks per second, to the microwave which produces· cataracts with that which band at several thousand megacycles per causes dt:·ath, for if the cataractogenic dose >t"COll<i. were sufficit:ntly gr;·ater than the lethal dose, Th,Te is no ~loubt that microwave radia- · the possibility of cataracts resulting from !ion I1;1s produced cataracts in animals.1•4 whole-body radiation would be of no real · m th, ,c experiments intense radiation was COf!Cem. applie-; l,x·ally to the eye. The consequences Only one similar of !rJ< , I_ irradiation. may have some prac­ series of ex)JOsures ap­ pears to have been made with comparable tical· nportancc in human beings since. 6 micro, a,·e radiation is used therapeutically frequencies in . the ultra-high~frequency ban_d. No cataracts :1bout •he eye. There is one reported case were obserYed in any of of cat;,r,,cts in a human being, allegedly due these animals, although they received radia­ tion in near to micowave irradiation,6 but this probably lethal amounts. However, the paucity of reported cannot be accepted as proved. In this re~ obsen•ations directed to.the problem ported case, the radiation intensity reaching of eye damage and the prac­ the ey,·, was difficult to estimate. Moreover, tical importance of the. problem warranted . the mnrphologic changes in the ·Jenses were further: study using present methods of quantitative investigation . nuclear c;itaracts and not what one expects II 1rith r:•diation.* Material and Methoda 1 ---Arrei,••:d for publication Jan. 17, 1958. The , ·search in this document ~as supporied Most of the exposures were carried out j<,inJly i : 1he Am1y, Navy, :u1d Air Force under in a waveguide system, hut some were made ''"lrac1 .1·i1h Jlie Massachusetts Insti1u1e of Tech­ in "free space." The term "free space" »iogy ...inroln Lahoratory. · must be interprded with some reservation. Howe Lahoratory of Oph1hal111ology, Harvanl lltdical School and Massachusetts Eye and. Ear In an attempt to duplicate actual exposure llilinnar, ( Drs. Cog:m a111l Donaldson) ; Massa­ conditions, the test animals were contained ct,use11, 'ns1itu1e of Technology, Lincoln Labora­ in a small Lucite box placed in the vicinity ~•l:)· ( D.-. Fricker)·; Occupa1ional Medical Service, of the radiating antenna. It was not possible . ll;,,sacln,.,e1is Insti1ute of Technology (Drs. Lubin "1d Hardy). to measure the powt:r absorbed by the ani­ 'Since lhe ·morphologic changes in rabhits' eyes mals under these conditions. With the.wave­ ':uduretl 1,y ionizing anil microw~ve irradia1ion are guide system, all of the energy wa~ confined 1 • rnilar, one wciul<l expect posterior subcapsular within known limits, so, that· 0 1 power meas­ • •rar1s in human lieings from microwave radia- urements could be made. Exposure in a 1'"' simil:tr 10 those caused by ionizing ra<lia1ion. waveguide is not the same as exposure in 299 E FOR PURPOSES OF S;UD; OR RESEARCH IN LIEU OF LEN_°.ING THE ~RIGl1' .~·· .. /. • I •.·.•1' •• ·.t•·-\: ~ -1 • r:~·: ~ .. ..,,,. Calaracts and Ultra-Hi'gh-Frc,1uency Radiatiol!J oAvrr, G. COGAN, M.D.; STEPHEN J, FRICKER, Sc.D.; MARTIN LUBIN, M.D., Ph.D., QAVlt, D. DONALDSON, tt\.D., and HARR.IET HARDY, M.D., Ba1tan R:11::u· and rnmi1iunication · installations The ohjectin: in the present study was to arc ,. .,ki.ng use of increasing amounts· of detcnnine whether or not cataracts might po11•,· As a n·sult, military and civilian result from exposure <A the whole body to 1,opul. tions may he exposed to larger doses radiation at fre<JuenciL-s similar to those _of. r:.F'i,,. f n~J\lcncy energJ' ... Such .exposures used- in• some high-power installations. The will I,,: to the tx,<ly as a whole.· The fre- immediate concern was with a ·freq:uency in 11 ucnc:l's ·use,! probably will ra,ige from the thi' range of. 400 megacycles (Mc.). Par­ ultra-•,igh-frequcncy band, at a few hundred ticular interest lay in comparing the dose 111ega, _1'Cl~s per second, to the microwave which produces cataracts with that which han~l :,t several thousarnl meg-.icyc!es per causes dcath, for if the cataractogenic dose ,econd. were sufficicntly greater than the lethal dose, Th",·" is no doubt that microwave ·radia- the possibility of cataracts resulting from 1 1ion lt:is J;r,xluce,I cataracts in animals. •4 whole-body radiation would be of no real rn th, .c l0 xperi1rn:nts intense rarfiation was concern. applie,: l1Jcally to the eye. The consequences Only one similar series of exposures air r,f lor I irradiation may have some prac- pears to ha,·e l.,>een made with comparable 1iral i nportance · in human beings since _.l!:_~tJencies 6 in the ultra-high-frequency micnr, we radiation is usl,d therapeutically band. No cataracts were obsened in any of al~Jut he eye. There is one repoiitd case these animals, ·although they recei,·ed radia­ of cat:,, 1cts in a human being, allegedly due tion i.n near lethal amounts. However, the to miu,J\\ave irradiation/ but this probably paucity of reported observations directed ranriot be accep!cd as proved. In this re- to the problem of eye damage and the prac­ ported ,ase, the r.idiation intensity reaching tical importance of the problem warranted the ey,·, was difficult to estimate. Moreover, further study using present methods of the m,,rphologic changes in tht lenses were quantitati\-e ill\'estigation. nuclear cataracts and not what one· expects with r:•diation.* Material and Methods ---Am,,1,·d for publication Jan. 17, 1958. Most of the exposures were carried out The ,. ·search in this document was ·supported a waveguide system, but some were made i11intly J.: the Army, Navy, and Air Force under in ro111rac1 .·,ith the Massachusetts Institute of Tech­ in "free space." The term "free space" '~•logy, : .inroln Lahoratory. must be interprtted with some reservation. Howt Lahoratory of· Ophthalmology, Har\'ard In an attempt to duplicate actual exposure lledical •-;d,ool and Massacliu,setts Eye and Ear conditions, the test animals were contained lnfinnar, ( Ors. Cogan and LJonaldson) ; Massa- 0111se1ts ·, 11stitute of Technology, Lincoln Labora- in a small Lucite box placi:d in the vicinity 1111')· (D, Fricker); Occupational Medical Service, of the radiating antenna .. It was not possible liass:icl,;,:;e11~ Institute of Technology (Drs. Lubin to measure the power absorbed by the ani­ . andHarciy). mals _under these conditions. \Vith the. wave­ 'Since ti,e morphologic changes in rabbits' eyes ~ide system, all of the energy was confined /•roduced i,r ionizing and microwave irradiation are "milar, one would expect posterior subcapsular within known limits, so that power meas­ '.ataracts in human beings from microwa\'e radia­ urements could be made. Exposure in a tion simil:ir to those caused hy ionizing radiation. waveguide is not the same as exposure in ·• ""t"' ', "·'~· r~ "t~ .., !' I A. M. A .•·ll<CHIFl:S OF IN/JUSTRIAI. Hl:.·11.TH I. free sj)acc, since the ekc:trical parameters pas, thi~ stq>, am! talk directly in tenns of ahs,,rl,ed power,. 111 watts. Since it · is this arc different, but the advantages to bc~ gained power wh:•·h ·is rmiv~·rl(>t1. into heat, - it m;~y ha\·e· a more ul."·:ious from this were considered suf1ic1ently great physical _mtcqtrctation. However, thi·s q1t1n:ny is to justify its use. A brief disrnssiun of the ~l~)l rc~Hhl)~ 1nC:.L..,urc,J under free !-,pace com: :ions. electrical measurements and charar!l'ristics lhc s1tua11011 can he g-rcatly improved if ,;., RF of radiation follows. CJ1c.-rg'~_· can he confined in a rlosed sysiem :,;inn: then st;u11lanl tc'Clmiques arc availahle for .-.wrr Elrclriral Cl,,ir~ct,·rislics ,nf RF /?,ulialion mc;,su~etlll'nts: Tims, altJmug-h a cloSL~I sy.-.-:·m is RF radiation is a tcm1 covering a wide hand n~,t qmte the ~;unt· sysfem :ts tl~at which wo11. l gire of frequencies. For our JmrJ>.>ses the main regions. !1SC to a po~s1hlc hazard, its ;u.lva.ntag-c.,;;, fo, rncas­ arc the ultra-high-frequcnry 1,md. (UHF), up to nrcmcnl w~rc considcre1.1 grCat enough tu ,. 1~tih· approxiniately 1000 Mcps, ,u1d ·frrni1 1000 Mrp,s 111>­ its use. Some additional tests were carried ·,1ut i~ wards, usually referred to as the microwave re­ "free space." gion.t _ E:xpo.<11rc Teclmique When a dissipative dielectric is placed in. an (11) In W:l\'eguide: A waveguide is a h111low electromagnetic field, curr-ei~~~.are- induced in the metal pipe,. throi,gh \\'hich RF· power ca11-l;·.made dielectric.