Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of 940 MHz EMF on Luciferase solution: structure, function, and dielectric studies med./bio.

By: Sefidbakht Y, Hosseinkhani S, Mortazavi M, Tavakkolnia I, Khellat MR, Shakiba-Herfeh M, Saviz M, Faraji-Dana R, Saboury AA, Sheibani N, Moosavi-Movahedi AA
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2013; 34 (6): 489-498
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of mobile phone frequency (940 MHz) electromagnetic fields on luciferase structure and activity (as a model enzyme).

Background/further details

Luciferase activities of exposed and control samples with different pre-exposure incubation times on ice (10 and 50 min) were compared.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 940 MHz
Exposure duration: exposure duration not given clearly (30 min?)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 940 MHz
Type
Exposure duration exposure duration not given clearly (30 min?)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber 5 cm plastic vial (0,5 mm wall thickness) placed in the X-shaped sample holder
Setup waveguide unit (aluminium box 600 mm in length and 170 mm in width and height); two probes generated the electromagnetic wave of 940 MHz at one end of the waveguide, and the other end was matched with the same configuration (only the vertical probe was used); four aluminum stubs were used for impedance matching of waveguide and elimination of standing wave pattern; X-shape Teflon sample holder for five samples (horizontally oriented; only central position was used) placed in the centre of the waveguide; waveguide was placed in an incubator (25°C); at each end of the waveguide, four pores were covered by metal meshes and equipped with fans to circulate the air inside the waveguide;
Additional info control samples were shielded with aluminium cylinders (1 cm in thickness) and placed in the incubator outside of the waveguide at the same temperature
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 1 W - - - input power
electric field strength 6 V/m effective value calculated - -
SAR 0.021 W/g average over mass calculated 1 g along the length of the sample tube
Additional parameter details

temperature rise (approx. 0.023°C) was neglected

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The luciferase activity of exposed samples was significantly higher than that of unexposed samples. The particle size (mean diameter) of the control samples was significantly larger than that of the exposed samples. The exposed samples showed a less tendency to form aggregates. The change in the dielectric properties of the exposed luciferase solution was related to the disaggregation potency of the applied field.
The authors conclude that the data suggest that direct interactions with luciferase molecules and its dipole moment were responsible for the reduced aggregation and enhanced luciferase activity following exposure to the electromagnetic field.

Study character:

Study funded by

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