Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Changes in Paramecium caudatum (Protozoa) near a switched-on GSM telephone med./bio.

By: Cammaerts MC, Debeir O, Cammaerts R

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2011; 30 (1): 57-66

Aim of study (acc. to editor)

To study the effects of a mobile phone exposure on the swimming behaviour and morphological and physiological parameters of the protozoan Paramecium caudatum.

Background/further details

23-35 protozoans were investigated for each exposure/sham exposure condition (11 individuals for physiological parameters).

Endpoint

cell function: swimming behaviour of Paramecium caudatum
different morphological and physiological parameters

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for at least 2 min, at least for four times	power: 2 W

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Exposure duration	continuous for at least 2 min, at least for four times

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	cell phone in standby position; petri dish with a few or a few hundred individuals of Paramecium caudatum placed 1-2 cm from the mobile phone's antenna or directly on the phone

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
Paramecium caudatum

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell function: trajectories of individual animals (mean linear and angular speed, swimming direction and swimming behaviour; stereomicroscopy with a camera lucida and light microscopy with a web cam)
different morphological and physiological parameters, e.g. length, width of anterior/posterior part, cytopharynx length/width, time between two systoles, distance traveld in 1 s)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
Paramecium caudatum
investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposed individuals moved more slowly and more sinuously than individuals of the control group. The physiology of the exposed protozoa was also affected: they became broader, their cytopharynx appeared broader, their pulse vesicles had difficulties in expelling their content outside the cell, their cilia moved less efficiently, and the trichocysts became more visible.
All these effects might result from some bad functioning or damage of the cell membrane.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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