Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Comparison of bioactivity between GSM 900 MHz and DCS 1800 MHz mobile telephony radiation med./bio.

By: Panagopoulos DJ, Chavdoula ED, Karabarbounis A, Margaritis LH

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2007; 26 (1): 33-44

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To compare the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic irradiation at 900 MHz, emitted by GSM mobile phones and at 1800 MHz, emitted by DCS mobile phones, on reproductive capacity of the insect Drosophila melanogaster.

Background/further details

There were four exposure groups: group 1 was exposed to GSM 900 MHz with the antenna in contact with the glass vial containing flies, group 2 was exposed to GSM 900 MHz with the antenna of the mobile phone at 1 cm distance from the vial, group 3 was exposed to DCS 1800 MHz with the antenna in contact with the glass vial, and group 4 was sham exposed. Each group consisted of ten female and ten male newly emerged flies.
Ten replicate experiments were carried out.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: reproductive capacity of Drosophila melanogaster

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 6 min/day for 5 days	power density: 0.407 mW/cm² mean (+/- 0.061 mW/cm²) electric field strength: 22.3 V/m average over time (+/- 2.2 V/m at zero distance) electric field strength: 13.9 V/m average over time (+/- 1.6 V/m at 1 cm distance) magnetic flux density: 0.04 µT average over time (+/- 0.007 µT at zero distance)
Exposure 2: 1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: 6 min/day for 5 days	power density: 0.283 mW/cm² mean (+/- 0.043 mW/cm²) electric field strength: 14.2 V/m average over time (+/- 1.7 V/m) magnetic flux density: 0.038 µT average over time (+/- 0.007µT)

General information

experiments were done in four groups: i) exposure to GSM signal with the phone's antenna in contact with the glass vial containing the flies ii) exposure to GSM signal with the phone's antenna in 1 cm distance of the glass vial containing the flies iii) exposure to DCS signal with the phone's antenna in contact with the glass vial containing the flies iv) sham exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	6 min/day for 5 days

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Setup	dual band commercial mobile phone in speaking mode
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.407 mW/cm²	mean	measured	-	+/- 0.061 mW/cm²
electric field strength	22.3 V/m	average over time	measured	-	+/- 2.2 V/m at zero distance
electric field strength	13.9 V/m	average over time	measured	-	+/- 1.6 V/m at 1 cm distance
magnetic flux density	0.04 µT	average over time	measured	-	+/- 0.007 µT at zero distance

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	6 min/day for 5 days

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	0.283 mW/cm²	mean	measured	-	+/- 0.043 mW/cm²
electric field strength	14.2 V/m	average over time	measured	-	+/- 1.7 V/m
magnetic flux density	0.038 µT	average over time	measured	-	+/- 0.007µT

Exposed system:

invertebrate
Drosophila melanogaster/Oregon-R
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the reproductive system: reproductive capacity (number of F1 pupae (corresponding to the number of laid eggs)); daily mean oviposition

Investigated system:

pupae/laid eggs

Investigated organ system:

reproductive system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Both types of exposure decreased significantly and non thermally the insect's reproductive capacity, but GSM 900 MHz seemed to be even more bioactive than DCS 1800 MHz. The effect seemed to be dependent on field intensity and less on carrier frequency.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Ministry of Education, Greece
Pythagoras I
University of Athens, Greece

Margaritis LH et al. (2014): Drosophila oogenesis as a bio-marker responding to EMF sources
Geronikolou S et al. (2014): Diverse radiofrequency sensitivity and radiofrequency effects of mobile or cordless phone near fields exposure in Drosophila melanogaster
Panagopoulos DJ (2012): Effect of microwave exposure on the ovarian development of Drosophila melanogaster
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2010): The effect of exposure duration on the biological activity of mobile telephony radiation
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2010): The identification of an intensity 'window' on the bioeffects of mobile telephony radiation
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2010): Bioeffects of mobile telephony radiation in relation to its intensity or distance from the antenna
Chavdoula ED et al. (2010): Comparison of biological effects between continuous and intermittent exposure to GSM-900-MHz mobile phone radiation: Detection of apoptotic cell-death features
Gonet B et al. (2009): Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on the oviposition of Drosophila melanogaster over three generations
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2009): Biological and Health Effects of Mobile Telephone Radiations
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2007): Cell death induced by GSM 900-MHz and DCS 1800-MHz mobile telephony radiation
Atli E et al. (2006): The effects of microwave frequency electromagnetic fields on the development of Drosophila melanogaster
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2004): Effect of GSM 900 MHz mobile phone radiation on the reproductive capacity of Drosophila melanogaster
Weisbrot D et al. (2003): Effects of mobile phone radiation on reproduction and development in Drosophila melanogaster
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2003): Effects of electromagnetic fields on the reproductive capacity of Drosophila melanogaster

Comparison of bioactivity between GSM 900 MHz and DCS 1800 MHz mobile telephony radiation med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

General information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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