Kmu and K-Band Irradiation of Giant Algal Cells: The Absence of Detected Bioeffects at 100 W/m2

Single cells of characean algae were exposed at 100 W/m2, and for periods of 100 ms to 1 h, to CW microwave radiation at 17 discrete frequencies over the range 12.4-26.5 GHz. In an attempt to detect resonances or other interactions between this radiation and membrane ion transport processes of the cells, the vacuolar potentials of the cells were monitored before, during, and after exposure and analyzed for radiation-correlated shifts. No unequivocal evidence of such interactions was observed, despite the fact that the most sensitive measurements were capable of resolving shifts of one part in 10 000.