A study on effects of cell phone tower-emitted non-ionizing radiations in an Allium cepa test system
Abstract
A study on effects of cell phone tower-emitted non-ionizing radiations in an Allium cepa test system Sharma A, Sharma S, Bahel S, Katnoria JK. A study on effects of cell phone tower-emitted non-ionizing radiations in an Allium cepa test system. Environ Monit Assess. 2024 Feb 13;196(3):261. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-12435-2. Abstract Considering enormous growth in population, technical advancement, and added reliance on electronic devices leading to adverse health effects, in situ simulations were made to evaluate effects of non- ionizing radiations emitted from three cell phone towers (T1, T2, and T3) of frequency bands (800, 1800, 2300 MHz), (900, 1800, 2300 MHz), and (1800 MHz), respectively. Five sites (S1–S5) were selected near cell phone towers exhibiting different power densities. The site with zero power density was considered as control. Effects of radiations were studied on morphology; protein content; antioxidant enzymes like ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR); and genotoxicity using Allium cepa. Mean power density (μW/cm2 ) was recorded as 1.05, 1.18, 1.6, 2.73, and 12.9 for sites 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. A significant change in morphology, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight in Allium cepa was observed under the exposure at different sites. Protein content of roots showed significant difference for samples at all sites while bulbs at sites S4 and S5 when compared to control. Antioxidant activity for root in terms of APX, GST, and POD showed significant changes at S4 and S5 and GR at site S5 and SOD at S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5. Similarly, bulbs showed significant changes at sites S4 and S5 for APX while at sites S3, S4, and S5 for POD and S2, S3, S4, and S5 for SOD and S5 for GR and GST. Genotoxicity study has shown induction of abnormalities at different stages of the cell cycle in Allium cepa root tips. The samples under exposure to radiation with maximum power density have shown maximum induction of oxidative stress and genotoxicity. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts Specific locations with cell phone towers were identified using the Tarang Sanchar portal. The power density (μW/cm2 ) at different sites near towers was noted manually using an electromagnetic radiation detector (model: PCE-EM 29; make: PCE instruments, UK). Five sites were selected following the criteria of high-power density exposure and site with convenient experimental setup. Cell phone towers emitting radiations of different frequency bands, viz., 800, 1800, and 2300 MHz, for Reliance Jio 900, 1800 and 2300 MHz for Airtel, and 1800 MHz for Vodafone Idea (VI), were located at the sites of experiment. Depending upon the distance from the cell towers, five sites near towers showed the increasing order of their power density with decreasing distance. Site 1 showed a mean power density of 1.05 μW/cm2 at a distance of 20 m from cell towers, with an angle of ∠16.67°. Meanwhile, site 2 recorded a mean power density of 1.18 μW/cm2 at a distance of 15 m, with an angle of ∠21.77°. Site 3 exhibited a mean power density of 1.6 μW/cm2 at a distance of 10 m and an angle of ∠30.94°. Site 4 showed a mean power density of 2.73 μW/cm2 at a distance of 5 m and an angle of ∠50.19°. In contrast, site 5 displayed a higher mean power density of 12.9 μW/cm2 at distance of 1 m and an angle of ∠80.21° with an average temperature recorded to be 20–24 °C and relative humidity of 45–50%. The specifics regarding the selection of the exposure sites are provided in Fig. 1. Keeping all other environmental conditions constant and altering only one parameter that is power density, the site with zero power density is designated as the control at a distance of 50 m and an angle of ∠6.818°. Conclusion The present study clearly revealed that plant samples under exposure to electromagnetic radiations generated from cell phone towers at varied frequencies and maximum power densities had altered morphological and biochemical characteristics. The enhanced level of antioxidative enzymes like APX, GST, GR, POD, and SOD during the present study indicate the enhancement of oxidative stress and genotoxicity. The harmful effects of exposure to non-ionizing radiations were also witnessed through reduced protein content in test samples as compared to that of control. The genotoxicity studies revealed that the damage by exposure to radiations was high for root samples as compared to bulb samples indicating that root tip cells of Allium cepa were sensitive bioindicators to reveal toxicity of radiation pollution. This study is the first of its kind conducted in the field and reveals that further advance research is the need of an hour for in-depth understanding and devising the effective protective measures for mitigation of the detrimental effects of radiations.
AI evidence extraction
Main findings
In situ exposure near three cell phone towers (reported frequency bands 800/1800/2300 MHz; 900/1800/2300 MHz; and 1800 MHz) across five sites with increasing mean power density (1.05 to 12.9 μW/cm²) was associated with significant changes in Allium cepa morphology and growth metrics, altered protein content, and significant changes in multiple antioxidant enzymes compared with a zero-power-density control site. Genotoxicity assessments showed induction of abnormalities at different stages of the cell cycle in root tips, with the highest power density site showing the maximum induction of oxidative stress and genotoxicity.
Outcomes measured
- Morphology (including root length, fresh weight, dry weight)
- Protein content (roots and bulbs)
- Antioxidant/oxidative stress enzymes: APX, SOD, GST, POD, GR (roots and bulbs)
- Genotoxicity/abnormalities in cell cycle stages in root tips
- Power density (μW/cm²) at exposure sites
Limitations
- Sample size not reported in provided abstract/excerpts
- Exposure duration not reported in provided abstract/excerpts
- Field (in situ) design with multiple environmental variables; control described as zero power density but other potential confounders not fully detailed in provided text
- Frequencies vary by tower/site; exposure characterization primarily via spot/mean power density measurements
Suggested hubs
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who-icnirp
(0.2) Study concerns RF exposure from cell phone towers; potentially relevant to exposure guideline discussions, though no policy content is provided.
View raw extracted JSON
{
"study_type": "animal",
"exposure": {
"band": "RF",
"source": "base station",
"frequency_mhz": null,
"sar_wkg": null,
"duration": null
},
"population": "Allium cepa (onion) test system (roots/bulbs) exposed in situ at sites near cell phone towers",
"sample_size": null,
"outcomes": [
"Morphology (including root length, fresh weight, dry weight)",
"Protein content (roots and bulbs)",
"Antioxidant/oxidative stress enzymes: APX, SOD, GST, POD, GR (roots and bulbs)",
"Genotoxicity/abnormalities in cell cycle stages in root tips",
"Power density (μW/cm²) at exposure sites"
],
"main_findings": "In situ exposure near three cell phone towers (reported frequency bands 800/1800/2300 MHz; 900/1800/2300 MHz; and 1800 MHz) across five sites with increasing mean power density (1.05 to 12.9 μW/cm²) was associated with significant changes in Allium cepa morphology and growth metrics, altered protein content, and significant changes in multiple antioxidant enzymes compared with a zero-power-density control site. Genotoxicity assessments showed induction of abnormalities at different stages of the cell cycle in root tips, with the highest power density site showing the maximum induction of oxidative stress and genotoxicity.",
"effect_direction": "harm",
"limitations": [
"Sample size not reported in provided abstract/excerpts",
"Exposure duration not reported in provided abstract/excerpts",
"Field (in situ) design with multiple environmental variables; control described as zero power density but other potential confounders not fully detailed in provided text",
"Frequencies vary by tower/site; exposure characterization primarily via spot/mean power density measurements"
],
"evidence_strength": "low",
"confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
"peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
"keywords": [
"Allium cepa",
"cell phone tower",
"base station",
"non-ionizing radiation",
"RF-EMF",
"power density",
"800 MHz",
"900 MHz",
"1800 MHz",
"2300 MHz",
"oxidative stress",
"antioxidant enzymes",
"genotoxicity",
"root tip",
"field study"
],
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"weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
"reason": "Study concerns RF exposure from cell phone towers; potentially relevant to exposure guideline discussions, though no policy content is provided."
}
]
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.
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