Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Mobile phone electromagnetic radiation activates MAPK signaling and regulates viability in Drosophila med./bio.

By: Lee KS, Choi JS, Hong SY, Son TH, Yu K
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2008; 29 (5): 371-379
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was performed to understand the molecular nature of the biological effects of mobile phone electromagnetic field at the organism level of the fruit fly.

Background/further details

A total of 690 adult female flies, wild type or mutants, were exposed at two different specific absorption rates: at 1.6 W/kg representing the exposure limit proposed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and at 4 W/kg. At least three independent experiments were performed in each electromagnetic field exposure condition. To prove whether decreased viability after exposure is related to changed anti-oxidant status two transgenic mutant flies exhibiting defective superoxide dismutase were crossed (Actin5C-Gal4 and UAS-SOD1IR or UAS-SOD2IR).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 835 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 835 MHz
Type
Charakteristic
  • guided field
Exposure duration continuous for 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • patented Wave Exposure V10 device [Chang et al., 2005] based on the TEM wave theory
Chamber The exposure device was placed in a chamber maintained at 25 ± 0.1 °C to avoid thermal effects.
Setup Flies were exposed in the device in a 100-mm Petri dish with a wet filter paper to maintain humidity.
Additional info At least three independent experiments were performed in each exposure condition.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 1.6 W/kg - - - -
SAR 4 W/kg - - - -
Additional parameter details

The SAR of 4 W/kg is equivalent at 835 MHz to an electric field intensity of 82 V/m for blood cells and 93.25 V/m for skin cells.

Reference articles

  • Chang SK et al. (2005): Genotoxicity evaluation of electromagnetic fields generated by 835-MHz mobile phone frequency band

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

At the specific absorption rate 1.6 W/kg, more than 90% of the flies were viable even after the 30 hours exposure. However, at the specific absorption rate 4 W/kg, viability was decreasing from the 12 hours exposure. Only 10% of the flies survived after the 30 hours exposure.
The exposure significantly increased intercellular ROS levels by time and intensity. Superoxide dismutase defect mutants showed lower viability compared to the wild type.
The electromagnetic field exposures activated ERK and JNK signal transduction pathway, but not p38 kinase signal transduction pathway. Interestingly, the specific absorption rate 1.6 W/kg activated mainly ERK signal transduction pathway and expression of an anti-apoptotic gene, whereas the specific absorption rate 4 W/kg strongly activated JNK signal transduction pathway and expression of apoptotic genes.
In addition, the specific absorption rate 4 W/kg amplified the number of apoptotic cells in the fly brain.

Study character:

Study funded by

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