Medical/biological study (experimental study)

SIMS Study of the Calciumdeprivation step related to epidermal meristem production induced in flax by cold shock or radiation from a GSM telephone med./bio.

By: Tafforeau M, Verdus MC, Norris V, White G, Demarty M, Thellier M, Ripoll C

Published in: Journal of Trace and Microprobe Techniques 2002; 20 (4): 611-623

Journal partially peer-reviewed/peer-review process unclear

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was designed to investigate whether microwaves emitted by GSM mobile phones possibly exert influence on plants.

Background/further details

A sensitive experimental system was used: week-old seedlings of flax are subjected to a temporary calcium deprivation. This results in the production of epidermal meristems (meristems are small groups of actively dividing cells) in the hypocotyls (part of the stem between the root and the first leaves), typically 10-20 meristems after a month, provided the seedlings have previously undergone an exposure to different stresses or stimuli (such as drought or cold shock). In control experiments designed to minimize these stresses, the mean number of meristems produced per plant is 0 or 1 after subjecting seedling to calcium deprivation.
Cold shock treted plants were the positive control. Further investigations were performed on ion distribution of the epidermis and cortical tissue of the mid part of flax hypocotyl during calcium deprivation.

Endpoint

effects on plants/number of meristems

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 0.9 GHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 2 h	-

General information

seedlings were treated in three groups: i) EMF exposure from GSM phone on day 6 ii) cold schock for 1 min on day 6 iii) control = no treatment

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	0.9 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 2 h

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone Nokia 7110 GSM phone
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	17 cm
Setup	low intensity sound was delivered to the phone's microphone using a miniature headphone to maintain emission from the phone; this assembly was wrapped in absorbent laboratory paper

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposed system:

plant
flax (Linum usitatissimum L. var Ariane)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

number of meristems (small groups of actively dividing cells) in the hypocotyls (part of the stem between the root and the first leaves) (light microscopy); ion distribution in epidermis and cortical tissue (mass spectrometry)

Investigated system:

hypocotyl

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Flax seedlings responded to the combination of either a 2 hours GSM telephone irradiation or a 1 minute cold shock plus a 2-day calcium deprivation in the same way as they respond to other combinations such as touch, wind or drought plus calcium deprivation.
Significant changes in ion distribution were observed for calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Flax seedlings tended to maintain the ratio of divalent to monovalent cations constant during calclium deprivation

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Kumar A et al. (2016): EMF radiations (1800 MHz)-inhibited early seedling growth of maize (Zea mays) involves alterations in starch and sucrose metabolism
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Sharma VP et al. (2010): Cell phone radiations affect early growth of Vigna radiata (mung bean) through biochemical alterations
Chen YP et al. (2009): Weak microwave can alleviate water deficit induced by osmotic stress in wheat seedlings
Roux D et al. (2008): High frequency (900 MHz) low amplitude (5 V m-1) electromagnetic field: a genuine environmental stimulus that affects transcription, translation, calcium and energy charge in tomato
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Roux D et al. (2006): Electromagnetic fields (900 MHz) evoke consistent molecular responses in tomato plants
Vian A et al. (2006): Microwave irradiation affects gene expression in plants
Tkalec M et al. (2005): Influence of 400, 900, and 1900 MHz electromagnetic fields on Lemna minor growth and peroxidase activity
Tafforeau M et al. (2004): Plant sensitivity to low intensity 105 GHz electromagnetic radiation