Evaluation of Effects of the Microwave Oven (915 and 2450 MHz) and Radar (2810 and 3050 MHz) Electromagnetic Radiation on Noncompetitive Cardiac Pacemakers

Using pacemakers implanted in canines with surgically induced atrioventricular blocks, the effects of the microwave-oven frequencies (915 and 2450 MHz) and two radar frequencies (2810 and 3050 MHz) were evaluated. Quantitative evaluation of these fields with respect to complete inhibition of pacemakers can be made. A narrow zone of inhibition during some exposures-a ``window´´ effect-not previously described is reported. The following field parameters would be regarded as potential situations for complete pacemaker inhibition: 1) 915-MHz-fields continuous- and sine-wave modulation at 120 Hz in field strengths over 75 V/m, and 2) fields at either 2810 or 3050 MHz pulsed at a rate of 40 pulses per second (pps) or less with a field strength greater than 250 V/m.