Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of mobile phone radiation on reproduction and development in Drosophila melanogaster med./bio.

By: Weisbrot D, Lin H, Ye L, Blank M, Goodman R
Published in: J Cell Biochem 2003; 89 (1): 48-55
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of a radiofrequency signal produced by a GSM multiband mobile phone on Drosophila melanogaster, during the 10-day developmental period from egg laying through pupation.

Background/further details

The investigated serum response element (SRE) is a regulatory sequence required for a specific activation of the cellular immediate early genes, c-fos and c-jun.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,900 MHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 2 times 60 min with a 4-h interval, for 10 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,900 MHz
Type
Exposure duration repeated daily exposure, 2 times 60 min with a 4-h interval, for 10 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber Flies were placed into 50-ml cylindrical glass vials (2.5 cm diameter and 10 cm height), with standard food 1 cm thick at the bottom of the vials.
Setup Five vials were placed parallel to the antenna of a GSM phone either with power off, or active, or active with an MP12 device attached.
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info The model MP12 commercial "Mitigation Device" was a "magnetic oscillator 0.8/0.9 GHz/1.8/1.9 GHz". According to the manufacturer, the frequency range is measurable by SQUID only. The main frequencies observed in ELF were 10/12 Hz and 40/45 Hz, and the intensity of the magnetic field was 100/150 Femto-Tesla. Non-phospho-ELK-1 served as a positive control.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.4 W/kg unspecified cf. remarks cf. remarks determined by the manufacturer for a human head
electric field strength 2.2 V/m effective value measured - 1.3-2.2 V/m at the antenna
electric field strength 3.3 V/m effective value measured - 1.9-3.3 V/m at the speaker
Measurement and calculation details

Emissions from the mobile phone were measured in air under four sets of conditions: without the battery charger, with the MP12, with the battery charger, and with both the MP12 and the battery charger in order to determine the effect of the MP12 device. Measurements were made in three ranges, RF (1900 MHz), ELF (0-100 Hz) and ELF (0-500 Hz), and at two locations on the mobile phone, the antenna and the speaker: RF 1900 MHz emissions at 2.5 cm from the middle of the 10-cm phone antenna and 2.5 cm from the speaker; ELF (0-100 Hz, 0-500 Hz) emissions at 7 cm from the middle of the antenna; ELF (0-500 Hz) emissions at 7 cm from the speaker. ELF(0-100 Hz) emissions from the speaker were not measured. In the RF range, an electric field probe with wide band analyzer was used. In the ELF range, an electric and magnetic field analyzer and probe were used, along with a spectrum analyzer. All RF and ELF measurements were made for 6 min, with corresponding rms and maximum peak intensity values. Specific ELF frequency measured at the speaker was 35 Hz at 0.85 V/m with its harmonics at 105, 175, 245, 315, 385 Hz. The frequency appeared as soon as the phone was switched on, even if not connected to the provider net.

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The non-thermal irradiation from the GSM mobile phone increased numbers of offspring, elevated HSP70 levels, increased serum response element DNA-binding and induced the phosphorylation of the nuclear transcription factor, ELK-1.

Study character:

Study funded by

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