Medical/biological study (experimental study)

GSM 900 MHz microwave radiation affects embryo development of Japanese quails med./bio.

By: Tsybulin O, Sidorik E, Kyrylenko S, Henshel D, Yakymenko I

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2012; 31 (1): 75-86

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of microwaves emitted by a GSM 900 MHz cell phone on embryo development in quails.

Background/further details

Embryos were exposed in ovo (in the egg). Two experiments were performed: 1 a) unexposed for 38 h (n=10), 1 b) exposed for 38 h (n=10), 2 a) unexposed for 14 days and 2 b) exposed for 14 days (n=56-68 (Remark EMF-Portal: not clear if the number of samples is given only for exposure group or for both groups).

Endpoint

effects on embryo/fetus: number of somites in the embryos the 38 h exposed group; survival rate and hatchability of chicks, oxidative stress in brain, liver and heart in the 14 days exposed group

Exposure

- 890–915 MHz
- low level microwaves
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 890–915 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 38 h	power density: 0.21 µW/cm² (± 0.014 µW/cm² at a distance of 3 cm from the cell phone) power density: 0.024 µW/cm² (± 0.003 µW/cm² at a distance of 10 cm from the cell phone) SAR: 0.79 W/kg (manufacturer's data)
Exposure 2: 890–915 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 14 days	power density: 0.21 µW/cm² (± 0.014 µW/cm² at a distance of 3 cm from the cell phone) power density: 0.024 µW/cm² (± 0.003 µW/cm² at a distance of 10 cm from the cell phone) SAR: 0.79 W/kg (manufacturer's data)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	890–915 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 38 h
Additional info	channel rotating frequency: 217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone Nokia 3120 GSM mobile phone
Chamber	920 mm x 590 mm x 530 mm laboratory incubator with metal covers removed from the door and the sides and replaced by plastic covers; temperature of incubation during the first 14 days was 38.3°C; after 14 days of incubation the temperature of incubation was lowered to 37.5°C
Setup	eggs placed on horizontal trays; cell phone positioned on a plastic stand inside the incubator at a distance of 3 cm from the eggs; unexposed eggs placed inside the same incubator at a distance of 6 cm from the exposed eggs and shielded by aluminum foil; cell phone kept in connecting mode by auto-redial; each connecting attempt lasted 45 s; distance between the phone and the eggs: 3 cm - 10 cm

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.21 µW/cm²	-	measured	-	± 0.014 µW/cm² at a distance of 3 cm from the cell phone
power density	0.024 µW/cm²	-	measured	-	± 0.003 µW/cm² at a distance of 10 cm from the cell phone
SAR	0.79 W/kg	-	measured	-	manufacturer's data

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	890–915 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 14 days
Additional info	channel rotating frequency: 217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.21 µW/cm²	-	measured	-	± 0.014 µW/cm² at a distance of 3 cm from the cell phone
power density	0.024 µW/cm²	-	measured	-	± 0.003 µW/cm² at a distance of 10 cm from the cell phone
SAR	0.79 W/kg	-	measured	-	manufacturer's data

Reference articles

Hyland GJ (2000): Physics and biology of mobile telephony

Exposed system:

animal
Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
whole body: embryo in ovo

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on embryo/fetus: in the 38 h exposed group: number of somites, developmental abnormalities in the embryos (light microscopy), surface temperature of the eggs in the 14 days exposed group: survival rate and hatchability of chicks; oxidative stress in brain, liver and heart: lipid peroxidation in day-old chicks (via thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

tissue homogenates of brain, liver and heart; embryo
investigation on living organism

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In the first experiment, the number of somites in the exposed group increased significantly in comparison to the control group. No differences in the surface temperature of the eggs between the exposed group and the control group occurred.
In the second experiment, the survival rate of the exposed group was significantly higher than the survival rate of the control group. In the exposed group, the hatchability was significantly increased in comparison to the control group. The hatching took place 3-4 hours earlier in the exposed group as compared with the control.
In day-old chicks, which were exposed in ovo, the level of lipid peroxidation in the liver and in the brain was significantly increased in comparison to the control group. The level of lipid peroxidation in the heart of the exposed group was higher than that of the control group, but did not reach statistical significance.
The authors conclude that in ovo exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field stimulates the early development of the embryo and increases the total survival rate in Japanese quails. The observed effects could be explained by increased levels of lipid peroxidation in brains and livers of the embryos.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

European Union (EU)/European Commission
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine
South Moravian Region, Czech Republic

Woelders H et al. (2017): Study of potential health effects of electromagnetic fields of telephony and Wi-Fi, using chicken embryo development as animal model
Tsybulin O et al. (2016): Monochromatic red light of LED protects embryonic cells from oxidative stress caused by radiofrequency radiation
Burlaka A et al. (2013): Overproduction of free radical species in embryonal cells exposed to low intensity radiofrequency radiation
Tsybulin O et al. (2013): GSM 900 MHz cellular phone radiation can either stimulate or depress early embryogenesis in Japanese quails depending on the duration of exposure
Umur AS et al. (2013): Evaluation of the effects of mobile phones on the neural tube development of chick embryos
Batellier F et al. (2008): Effects of exposing chicken eggs to a cell phone in "call" position over the entire incubation period
Xenos TD et al. (2003): 5.6 Low power density RF-radiation effects on experimental animal embryos and foetuses
Saito K et al. (1995): Maldevelopment of early chick embryos induced by nonthermogenic dose radio frequency radiation at 428 MHz for the first 48 hours
Saito K et al. (1991): Lethal and teratogenic effects of long-term low-intensity radio frequency radiation at 428 MHz on developing chick embryo
Spiers DE et al. (1991): Thermal and metabolic responsiveness of Japanese quail embryos following periodic exposure to 2,450 MHz microwaves
Byman D et al. (1985): Effect of microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz, CW) on egg weight loss, egg hatchability, and hatchling growth of the Coturnix quail
Inouye M et al. (1982): Effects of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on the development of Japanese quail cerebellum
Galvin MJ et al. (1980): Effects of 2.45-GHz microwave radiation on embryonic quail hearts
McRee DI et al. (1977): Exposure of Japanese quail embryos to 2.45-GHz microwave radiation during development

GSM 900 MHz microwave radiation affects embryo development of Japanese quails med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

Related articles