Drosophila oogenesis as a bio-marker responding to EMF sources

Abstract

The model biological organisms Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila virilis have been utilized to assess effects on apoptotic cell death of follicles during oogenesis and reproductive capacity (fecundity) decline. A total of 280 different experiments were performed using newly emerged flies exposed for short time daily for 3–7 d to various EMF sources including: GSM 900/1800 MHz mobile phone, 1880–1900 MHz DECT wireless base, DECT wireless handset, mobile phone-DECT handset combination, 2.44 GHz wireless network (Wi-Fi), 2.44 GHz blue tooth, 92.8 MHz FM generator, 27.15 MHz baby monitor, 900 MHz CW RF generator and microwave oven’s 2.44 GHz RF and magnetic field components. Mobile phone was used as a reference exposure system for evaluating factors considered very important in dosimetry extending our published work with D. melanogaster to the insect D. virilis. Distance from the emitting source, the exposure duration and the repeatability were examined. All EMF sources used created statistically significant effects regarding fecundity and cell death-apoptosis induction, even at very low intensity levels (0.3 V/m blue tooth radiation), well below ICNIRP’s guidelines, suggesting that Drosophila oogenesis system is suitable to be used as a biomarker for exploring potential EMF bioactivity. Also, there is no linear cumulative effect when increasing the duration of exposure or using one EMF source after the other (i.e. mobile phone and DECT handset) at the specific conditions used. The role of the average versus the peak E-field values as measured by spectrum analyzers on the final effects is discussed.

• Apoptosis
• baby monitor
• blue tooth
• DECT base
• DECT handset
• Drosophila
• EMFs
• mobile phones
• MW oven
• reproduction
• Wi-Fi

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank ACTA Ltd Greece and ROHDE & SCHWARZ Hellas for kindly providing the SRM-3006 and the R&S FSH8 spectrum analyzers respectively for fulfilling some of the EMF measurements.

The contribution of Adamantia F. Fragopoulou is highly acknowledged for the critical reading and remarks on the manuscript.