A study on effects of cell phone tower-emitted non-ionizing radiations in an Allium cepa test system.

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.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and genotoxicity of 900 MHz electromagnetic radiations using Trigonella foenum-graecum test system.

Unprecedented growth in the communication sector and expanded usage of the number of wireless devices in the past few decades have resulted in a tremendous increase in emissions of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations (EMRs) in the environment. The widespread EMRs have induced many significant changes in biological systems leading to oxidative stress as well as DNA damage. Considering this, the present study was planned to study the effects of EMRs at 900 MHz frequency with the power density of 10.0 dBm (0.01 W) at variable exposure periods (0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h per day for 7 days) on percentage germination, morphological characteristics, protein content, lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde content (MDA), and antioxidant defense system of Trigonella foenum-graecum test system. The genotoxicity was also evaluated using similar conditions. It was observed that EMRs significantly decreased the germination percentage at an exposure time of 4 h and 8 h. Fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot did not show significant variations, while the root and shoot length have shown significant variations for 4 h and 8 h exposure period. Further, EMRs enhanced MDA indicating lipid peroxidation. In response to exposure of EMRs, there was a significant up-regulation in the activities of enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR) in the roots and shoots of Trigonella-foenum graecum. The genotoxicity study showed the induction of chromosomal aberrations in root tip cells of the Trigonella foenum-graecum test system. The present study revealed the induction of oxidative stress and genotoxicity of EMRs exposure in the test system.