Effect of microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz, CW) on egg weight loss, egg hatchability, and hatchling growth of the Coturnix quail.
Fertile eggs of the Coturnix quail were exposed twice a day for 30 min to 2.45-GHz continuous wave radiation at power densities of 25 or 50 mW cm-2 throughout the 17-day incubation period. Other eggs were exposed to 20 degrees C or 24 degrees C temperatures twice daily. Repeated exposures to 20 degrees C, 24 degrees C, or 25 mW cm-2 did not reduce hatchability. Irradiation at 50 mW cm-2 lowered hatchability, probably as a result of high egg temperatures. Hatchlings that had been irradiated by microwaves as embryos had normal growth rates and no obvious developmental abnormalities.
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced; D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix / Q000196:embryology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011784:Quail / Q000196:embryology*; D015053:Zygote / Q000528:radiation effects*