Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Influence of 400, 900, and 1900 MHz electromagnetic fields on Lemna minor growth and peroxidase activity. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
Duckweed Lemna minor was used as a model plant for investigating the effects of electromagnetic fields on growth and changes in peroxidase activity.
Background/further details:
Peroxidases are widely distributed enzymes in plants where they play many important roles in growth, differentiation and development processes. Different environmental factors can change peroxidase activity so it is often used as a biomarker for plants exposed to stress.

Endpoint

• plant growth and peroxidase activity

Exposure
General category: microwaves

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 400 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for 2, 4, and 14 h	electric field strength: 10 V/m (for 14 h) electric field strength: 23 V/m (for 2 h and 4 h) electric field strength: 41 V/m (for 2 h) electric field strength: 390 V/m (for 2 h)
field 2: 400 MHz amplitude modulation exposure duration: continuous for 2 h	electric field strength: 23 V/m
field 3: 900 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for 2, 4, and 14 h	electric field strength: 10 V/m (for 14 h) electric field strength: 23 V/m (for 2 h and 4 h) electric field strength: 41 V/m (for 2 h) electric field strength: 390 V/m (for 2 h)
field 4: 900 MHz amplitude modulation exposure duration: continuous for 2 h	electric field strength: 23 V/m
field 5: 1900 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for 14 h	electric field strength: 10 V/m

Exposed system:
plant (species/strain): Lemna minor L. (duckweed)
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• plant growth; peroxidase activity (spectrophotometry)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The growth of plants exposed to the 23 V/m electric field of 900 MHz for 2 h significantly decreased in comparison with the control. An electric field of the same electric field strength but at 400 MHz did not have such effect. A modulated field at 900 MHz inhibited the growth, while at 400 MHz modulation did not influence the growth significantly. At both frequencies a longer irradiation mostly decreased the growth and the highest electric field (390 V/m) strongly inhibited the growth. Irradiation of plants to lower field strength (10 V/m) for 14 h caused significant decrease at 400 and 1900 MHz, while 900 MHz did not influence the growth.
Peroxidase activity in irradiated plants varied, depending on the exposure characteristics. Revealed alterations were mostly small, except in plants exposed for 2 h to 41 V/m at 900 MHz where a significant increase was found.
The data suggest that investigated electromagnetic fields might influence plant growth and, to some extent, peroxidase activity. However, the effects strongly depended on the field characteristics.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• Ministry of Science and Technology (later on "Ministry of Science, Education and Sport"), Croatia

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