WiFi Related Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Promote Transposable Element Dysregulation and Genomic Instability in Drosophila melanogaster

2022 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 626

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

WiFi Related Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Promote Transposable Element Dysregulation and Genomic Instability in Drosophila melanogaster Cappucci U, Casale AM, Proietti M, Marinelli F, Giuliani L, Piacentini L. WiFi Related Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Promote Transposable Element Dysregulation and Genomic Instability in Drosophila melanogaster. Cells. 2022 Dec 13;11(24):4036. doi: 10.3390/cells11244036. Abstract Exposure to artificial radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) has greatly increased in recent years, thus promoting a growing scientific and social interest in deepening the biological impact of EMFs on living organisms. The current legislation governing the exposure to RF-EMFs is based exclusively on their thermal effects, without considering the possible non-thermal adverse health effects from long term exposure to EMFs. In this study we investigated the biological non-thermal effects of low-level indoor exposure to RF-EMFs produced by WiFi wireless technologies, using Drosophila melanogaster as the model system. Flies were exposed to 2.4 GHz radiofrequency in a Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) cell device to ensure homogenous controlled fields. Signals were continuously monitored during the experiments and regulated at non thermal levels. The results of this study demonstrate that WiFi electromagnetic radiation causes extensive heterochromatin decondensation and thus a general loss of transposable elements epigenetic silencing in both germinal and neural tissues. Moreover, our findings provide evidence that WiFi related radiofrequency electromagnetic fields can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, genomic instability, and behavioural abnormalities. Finally, we demonstrate that WiFi radiation can synergize with RasV12 to drive tumor progression and invasion. All together, these data indicate that radiofrequency radiation emitted from WiFi devices could exert genotoxic effects in Drosophila and set the stage to further explore the biological effects of WiFi electromagnetic radiation on living organisms. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationDrosophila melanogaster (flies)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 2400 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In Drosophila melanogaster exposed to non-thermal, low-level indoor RF-EMFs from WiFi (2.4 GHz) in a TEM cell, the authors report extensive heterochromatin decondensation and loss of transposable element epigenetic silencing in germinal and neural tissues. They also report ROS accumulation, genomic instability, behavioural abnormalities, and that WiFi radiation can synergize with RasV12 to drive tumor progression and invasion.

Outcomes measured

heterochromatin decondensation
loss of transposable element epigenetic silencing (transposable element dysregulation)
reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation
genomic instability
behavioural abnormalities
tumor progression and invasion (synergy with RasV12)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure duration not reported in abstract
Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract
Animal/insect model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": 2400,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Drosophila melanogaster (flies)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "heterochromatin decondensation",
    "loss of transposable element epigenetic silencing (transposable element dysregulation)",
    "reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation",
    "genomic instability",
    "behavioural abnormalities",
    "tumor progression and invasion (synergy with RasV12)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In Drosophila melanogaster exposed to non-thermal, low-level indoor RF-EMFs from WiFi (2.4 GHz) in a TEM cell, the authors report extensive heterochromatin decondensation and loss of transposable element epigenetic silencing in germinal and neural tissues. They also report ROS accumulation, genomic instability, behavioural abnormalities, and that WiFi radiation can synergize with RasV12 to drive tumor progression and invasion.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Specific exposure metrics (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in abstract",
    "Animal/insect model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "WiFi",
    "RF-EMF",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "Drosophila melanogaster",
    "non-thermal exposure",
    "TEM cell",
    "heterochromatin",
    "transposable elements",
    "epigenetic silencing",
    "ROS",
    "genomic instability",
    "behavior",
    "RasV12",
    "tumor progression"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Study investigates biological effects of WiFi-related RF-EMF exposure (2.4 GHz)."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/cells11244036
PubMed: Not supplied

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