In our laboratories we are conducting investigations of potential interactions between radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RFR) and chemicals that are toxic by different mechanisms to mammalian cells. The RFR is being tested at frequencies in the microwave range and at different power levels. We report here on the 1) ability of simultaneous RFR exposures to alter the distribution of cells in first and second mitoses from that after treatment by adriamycin alone, and 2) on the ability of simultaneous RFR exposure to alter the extent of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) induced by adriamycin alone. This chemical was selected because of its reported mechanism of action and because it is of interest in the treatment of cancer. In our studies, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were exposed for 2 h simultaneously to adriamycin and pulsed RFR at a frequency of 2,450 MHz and a specific absorption rate of 33.8 W/Kg. The maximal temperature (in the tissue-culture medium) was 39.7 +/- 0.2 degrees C. The experiments were controlled for chemical and RFR exposures, as well as for temperature. Verified statistically, the data indicate that the RFR did not affect changes in cell progression caused by adriamycin, and the RFR did not change the number of SCEs that were induced by the adriamycin, which adriamycin is known to affect cells by damaging their membranes and DNA.