3.5-GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation promotes the development of Drosophila melanogaster

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) · 2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 958

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

3.5-GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation promotes the development of Drosophila melanogaster Yahong Wang, Zhihao Jiang, Lu Zhang, Ziyan Zhang, Yanyan Liao, Peng Cai. 3.5-GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation promotes the development of Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Pollut. 2021 Dec 8;294:118646. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118646. Highlights • Simulating the most representative 3.5 GHz RF-EMF band of 5G in China. • We study the long-term effects of 3.5 GHz RF-EMF on flies' development. • The microbial community may participate in the development under long-term RF-EMF. • It provides a reference for the hidden health effects of RF-EMF. Abstract With the rapidly increasing popularity of 5G mobile technology, the effect of radiofrequency radiation on human health has caused public concern. This study explores the effects of a simulated 3.5 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) environment on the development and microbiome of flies under intensities of 0.1 W/m2, 1 W/m2 and 10 W/m2. We found that the pupation percentages in the first 3 days and eclosion rate in the first 2 days were increased under exposure to RF-EMF, and the mean development time was shortened. In a study on third-instar larvae, the expression levels of the heat shock protein genes hsp22, hsp26 and hsp70 and humoral immune system genes AttC, TotC and TotA were all significantly increased. In the oxidative stress system, DuoX gene expression was decreased, sod2 and cat gene expression levels were increased, and SOD and CAT enzyme activity also showed a significant increase. According to the 16S rDNA results, the diversity and species abundance of the microbial community decreased significantly, and according to the functional prediction analysis, the genera Acetobacter and Lactobacillus were significantly increased. In conclusion, 3.5 GHz RF-EMF may enhance thermal stress, oxidative stress and humoral immunity, cause changes in the microbial community, and regulate the insulin/TOR and ecdysteroid signalling pathways to promote fly development. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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 directionmixed

PopulationDrosophila melanogaster (flies; includes third-instar larvae assessments)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 3500 MHz · long-term

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Under simulated 3.5 GHz RF-EMF at 0.1, 1, and 10 W/m2, pupation percentages in the first 3 days and eclosion rate in the first 2 days increased and mean development time was shortened. In third-instar larvae, heat shock protein and humoral immune gene expression increased; oxidative stress-related changes included decreased DuoX expression, increased sod2 and cat expression, and increased SOD and CAT enzyme activity. Microbial community diversity and species abundance decreased, with Acetobacter and Lactobacillus increased.

Outcomes measured

Development (pupation percentage, eclosion rate, mean development time)
Heat shock protein gene expression (hsp22, hsp26, hsp70)
Humoral immune gene expression (AttC, TotC, TotA)
Oxidative stress markers (DuoX, sod2, cat gene expression; SOD and CAT enzyme activity)
Microbiome composition and diversity (16S rDNA; Acetobacter, Lactobacillus)
Predicted microbial functional changes
Insulin/TOR and ecdysteroid signalling pathways (mentioned as regulated)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract
Exposure duration details not specified beyond 'long-term'
Findings are in an animal/insect model; human health implications not directly assessed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "5G (simulated RF-EMF environment)",
    "frequency_mhz": 3500,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long-term"
  },
  "population": "Drosophila melanogaster (flies; includes third-instar larvae assessments)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Development (pupation percentage, eclosion rate, mean development time)",
    "Heat shock protein gene expression (hsp22, hsp26, hsp70)",
    "Humoral immune gene expression (AttC, TotC, TotA)",
    "Oxidative stress markers (DuoX, sod2, cat gene expression; SOD and CAT enzyme activity)",
    "Microbiome composition and diversity (16S rDNA; Acetobacter, Lactobacillus)",
    "Predicted microbial functional changes",
    "Insulin/TOR and ecdysteroid signalling pathways (mentioned as regulated)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Under simulated 3.5 GHz RF-EMF at 0.1, 1, and 10 W/m2, pupation percentages in the first 3 days and eclosion rate in the first 2 days increased and mean development time was shortened. In third-instar larvae, heat shock protein and humoral immune gene expression increased; oxidative stress-related changes included decreased DuoX expression, increased sod2 and cat expression, and increased SOD and CAT enzyme activity. Microbial community diversity and species abundance decreased, with Acetobacter and Lactobacillus increased.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract",
    "Exposure duration details not specified beyond 'long-term'",
    "Findings are in an animal/insect model; human health implications not directly assessed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "3.5 GHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "5G",
    "Drosophila melanogaster",
    "development",
    "pupation",
    "eclosion",
    "heat shock proteins",
    "oxidative stress",
    "humoral immunity",
    "microbiome",
    "16S rDNA",
    "Acetobacter",
    "Lactobacillus"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Study explicitly simulates the 3.5 GHz band described as representative of 5G."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118646
PubMed: 34896224

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