Oxidative and genotoxic effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields in the earthworm Eisenia fetida med./bio.

To investigate whether the exposure to a radiofrequency electromagnetic field causes oxidative stress and has a genotoxic effect in earthworms.

Earthworms were divided in 7 groups (8 animals per group): 1.) control group, 2.) 2 hours exposure with a power density of 0.3 W/m², 3.) 2 hours exposure with a power density of 1.4 W/m², 4.) 2 hours exposure with a power density of 4.2 W/m², 5.) 2 hours exposure with a power density of 38.2 W/m², 6.) 4 hours exposure with a power density of 1.4 W/m² and 7.) 2 h exposure with a power density of 1.4 W/m², amplitude modulated.

• invertebrate
• earthworm (Eisenia fetida)
• whole body

In all exposure groups, a significant increase in the DNA damage was found in comparison to the control group and this effect was more pronounced in groups exposed to higher field levels. However, no differences were found between the exposure durations (2 or 4 h at 1.4 W/m²).
The protein carbonyl content in the exposed worms was significantly increased compared to the controls in all investigated fields above 0.3 W/m². The highest carbonyl content was measured after the exposure to 1.4 W/m². The level of malondialdehyde was significantly increased after 2 hours of exposure at power densities of 1.4 and 38.2 W/m² compared to the control.
Exposure above 0.3 W/m² led to a significantly increased catalase activity except for the amplitude modulated and the 4 hours exposure groups in comparison to the control animals. In all exposure groups, the enzyme activity of the glutathione reductase was significantly increased in comparison to the control group. However, no differences within the exposure groups occurred. >The mean temperature in the earthworms before the exposure was 21.9 +/- 0.2 °C and 22.02 +/- 0.3 °C after the exposure.
The authors conclude that electromagnetic fields have a DNA damaging capacity and cause oxidative stress in earthworms.