In view of the development of a novel test system, the effects of exposure of ants to different radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the motor activity as a potential indicator for adverse effects of electromagnetic fields should be investigated.
Ants of the species Myrmica sabuleti and Myrmica ruginodis were exposed to different exposure and control conditions (without any wireless equipment nearby).
Ants were divided into the following groups (each with n=20-40 ants from 1-2 colonies): M. sabuleti was 1) exposed to a mobile phone battery, 2) to a mobile phone without battery, or to a complete phone in 3) off mode, 4) in standby mode and 5) in on mode. The tests with groups 2-5 were repeated under blind conditions afterwards. M. sabuleti ants were further exposed to an active 6) DECT phone or 7) smartphone or to a WLAN router for 8) 5 or 9) 30 minutes.
M. ruginodis was exposed to 10) a notebook in off-mode, 11) an active notebook with deactivated WLAN function and 12) an active notebook with activated WLAN function.
For both species, several control groups were conducted.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
Exposure duration:
not given
mobile phone battery
|
- |
Exposure 2:
Exposure duration:
not given
mobile phone without battery
|
- |
|
Exposure 3:
Exposure duration:
not given
mobile phone off
|
- |
|
Exposure 4:
900 MHz
Exposure duration:
not given
|
- |
|
Exposure 5:
900 MHz
Exposure duration:
not given
mobile phone on
|
|
Exposure 6:
Exposure duration:
continuous for 3 minutes
DECT phone
|
|
Exposure 7:
Exposure duration:
continuous for 3 minutes
|
|
|
Exposure 8:
2.4 GHz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 5 minutes
WLAN router
|
|
|
Exposure 9:
2.4 GHz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 30 minutes
WLAN router
|
|
Exposure 10:
Exposure duration:
continuous for 5 minutes
notebook off
|
- |
Exposure 11:
Exposure duration:
continuous for 5 minutes
|
|
Exposure 12:
Exposure duration:
continuous for 5 minutes
|
|
| Frequency | |
|---|---|
| Exposure duration | not given |
| Additional info | mobile phone battery |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Chamber | artificial nests made of one to three glass tubes, half-filled with water and a cotton-plug separating the ants from the water; the glass tubes were deposited in trays (33 x 22 x 2.5 cm or 43 x 28 x 7 cm) |
| Setup | exposure source was placed below nest trays; room temperature was maintained at 20°C ± 2°C and humidity was about 80% |
No parameters are specified for this exposure.
| Frequency |
|
|---|---|
| Exposure duration | not given |
| Additional info | mobile phone without battery |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
No parameters are specified for this exposure.
| Frequency | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | not given |
| Additional info | mobile phone off |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
No parameters are specified for this exposure.
| Frequency | 900 MHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | not given |
| Additional info | mobile phone standby |
| Additional info | GSM |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
No parameters are specified for this exposure.
| Frequency | 900 MHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | not given |
| Additional info | mobile phone on |
| Additional info | GSM |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power | 2 W | - | estimated | - | - |
| power density | 5 µW/m² | - | measured | - | measured near active phone |
| Frequency |
|
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 3 minutes |
| Additional info | DECT phone |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power density | 800 µW/m² | minimum | measured | - | 800, 1000 or more than 2000 µW/m2 at a distance of 10-20 cm |
| Frequency |
|
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 3 minutes |
| Additional info | smartphone |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power density | 800 µW/m² | minimum | measured | - | 800, 1000 or more than 2000 µW/m2 at a distance of 10-20 cm |
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 5 minutes |
| Additional info | WLAN router |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Distance between exposed object and exposure source | 30 cm |
| Chamber | see E1 |
| Setup | router was placed between the two colonies; room temperature was maintained at 20°C ± 2°C and humidity was about 80% |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power density | 600 µW/m² | mean | measured | - | - |
| power density | 800 µW/m² | mean | measured | - | - |
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 30 minutes |
| Additional info | WLAN router |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Distance between exposed object and exposure source | 30 cm |
| Chamber | see E1 |
| Setup | see E8 |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power density | 600 µW/m² | mean | measured | - | - |
| power density | 800 µW/m² | mean | measured | - | - |
| Frequency |
|
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 5 minutes |
| Additional info | notebook off |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Chamber | see E1 |
| Setup | ants were located in front of the computer, at a distance of 20 cm and 5 cm beneath, i.e. where a user's body is usually located; room temperature was maintained at 20°C ± 2°C and humidity was about 80% |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
No parameters are specified for this exposure.
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Chamber | see E1 |
| Setup | see E10 |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power density | 5 µW/m² | minimum | measured | - | when WLAN was deactived |
| power density | 8 µW/m² | maximum | measured | - | when WLAN was deactived |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Chamber | see E1 |
| Setup | see E10 |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| power density | 600 µW/m² | peak value | measured | - | - |
| power density | 800 µW/m² | peak value | measured | - | - |
| power density | 300 µW/m² | - | measured | - | during exposure |
| power density | 500 µW/m² | - | measured | - | during exposure |
Exposure to a complete mobile phone in off, standby or on mode (groups 3-5) resulted in a significantly increased angular speed but only exposure to a complete mobile phone in on mode resulted in an additional significant decrease of the linear speed compared to the control group. These results were confirmed by the blind tests. Moreover, it was observed that ants left their nest and took their brood with them immediatelly when a mobile phone in standby mode was placed directly under the nest.
Exposure to a DECT phone or smartphone or to a WLAN router led to a significantly increased angular speed and a significantly decreased linear speed compared to the control group.
Exposure to an active notebook with activated WLAN function induced a significantly increased angular speed compared to the control group.
The authors conclude that exposure of ants to different radiofrequency electromagnetic fields could have effects on the motor activity and might be of use in a test as an indicator for adverse effects of electromagnetic fields.
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