Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Acute effect of exposure of mollusk single neuron to 900-MHz mobile phone radiation med./bio.

By: Partsvania B, Sulaberidze T, Shoshiashvili L, Modebadze Z

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2011; 30 (3): 170-179

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the influence of cell phone irradiation on the single neuron excitability and memory processes (learning ability).

Background/further details

The authors consider neuron habituation to stimulation as a form of learning. Habituation is expressed as disappearance of stimulus-induced action potential.
The amplitude of the stimulant intracellular current impulses was chosen to be slightly higher than the threshold value that depolarizes the neuron, because each stimulation should cause only one action potential. With such a kind of stimulation, the neuron accumulates "information" and "makes decision" to interrupt firing.
35 sham exposed and 31 exposed neurons were studied. The giant neuron 3 of the left parietal ganglion was selected for investigations.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: neuronal electrophysiology (neuron memory process and excitability)

Exposure

- 900 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 60 min	power: 2 W maximum (mobile phone's output power) power: 1.97 W maximum (in the TEM cell) SAR: 0.63 W/kg (in a single neuron)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 60 min

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone TEM cell
Setup	ganglions placed in 1 cm³ foam-plastic dishes in the center of the TEM cell's septum; TEM cell consisting of pieces ot rectangular coaxial transmission line tapered at the end and a long, flat plate as inner conductor (septum); antenna of the mobile phone disconnected and the phone connected to the TEM cell; test card inserted into the mobile phone to guarantee constant output power
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	maximum	-	-	mobile phone's output power
power	1.97 W	maximum	-	-	in the TEM cell
SAR	0.63 W/kg	-	calculated	-	in a single neuron

Reference articles

Popovic M et al. (1998): Finite-difference time-domain analysis of a complete transverse electromagnetic cell loaded with liquid biological media in culture dishes

Exposed system:

isolated organ
nervous system (ganglia) of the snail Helix pomatia

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: neuronal electrophysiology (neuron memory process and excitability: time of habituation (length of time between the first and last action potential), latent period (time interval between stimulation and the instant of action potential triggering), threshold of action potential; stimulation and recording via two glass microelectrodes)

Investigated system:

isolated organ
ganglia

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data revealed that the dynamics of habituation of sham exposed and exposed neurons to intracellular stimulation were similar. This means that exposed neurons habituated to the intracellular stimulation as sham exposed neurons. Statistical analysis showed that the only parameter that changed after acute exposure was the latent period.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF), Georgia

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