Simulated mobile communication frequencies (3.5 GHz) emitted by a signal generator affects the sleep of Drosophila melanogaster

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

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1168

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Simulated mobile communication frequencies (3.5 GHz) emitted by a signal generator affects the sleep of Drosophila melanogaster Yahong Wang, Hongying Zhang, Ziyan Zhang, Boqun Sun, Chao Tang, Lu Zhang, Zhihao Jiang, Bo Ding, Yanyan Liao, Peng Cai. Simulated mobile communication frequencies (3.5 GHz) emitted by a signal generator affects the sleep of Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Pollut. 2021 Apr 5;283:117087. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117087. Abstract With the rapid development of science and technology, 5G technology will be widely used, and biosafety concerns about the effects of 5G radiofrequency radiation on health have been raised. Drosophila melanogaster was selected as the model organism for our study, in which a 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation (RF-EMR) environment was simulated at intensities of 0.1 W/m2, 1 W/m2, and 10 W/m2. The activity of parent male and offspring (F1) male flies was measured using a Drosophila activity monitoring system under short-term and long- term 3.5 GHz RF-EMR exposure. Core genes associated with heat stress, the circadian clock and neurotransmitters were detected by QRT-PCR technology, and the contents of GABA and glutamate were detected by UPLC-MS. The results show that short-term RF-EMR exposure increased the activity level and reduced the sleep duration while long-term RF-EMR exposure reduced the activity level and increased the sleep duration of F1 male flies. Under long-term RF-EMR, the expression of heat stress response-related hsp22, hsp26 and hsp70 genes was increased, the expression of circadian clock-related per, cyc, clk, cry, and tim genes was altered, the content of GABA and glutamate was reduced, and the expression levels of synthesis, transport and receptor genes were altered. In conclusion, long-term RF-EMR exposure enhances the heat stress response of offspring flies and then affects the expression of circadian clock and neurotransmitter genes, which leads to decreased activity, prolonged sleep duration, and improved sleep quality. Highlights • This study was simulating the most representative 3.5 GHz radio frequency radiation band of 5G in environment. • This study was exploring the impact on the activity and sleep of organism under long-term RF-EMR. • This study provided a reference for the hidden health effects brought by the development of science and technology. pubmed.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 directionmixed

PopulationDrosophila melanogaster (parent male and offspring (F1) male flies)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 3500 MHz · short-term and long-term exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a simulated 3.5 GHz RF-EMR environment (0.1, 1, 10 W/m2), short-term exposure increased activity and reduced sleep duration, while long-term exposure reduced activity and increased sleep duration in F1 male flies. Under long-term exposure, heat stress response genes were increased, circadian clock gene expression was altered, and GABA and glutamate contents were reduced with altered expression of related genes.

Outcomes measured

activity level
sleep duration
heat stress response gene expression (hsp22, hsp26, hsp70)
circadian clock gene expression (per, cyc, clk, cry, tim)
GABA content
glutamate content
genes related to neurotransmitter synthesis/transport/receptors

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Exposure described in W/m2; SAR not reported
Findings are from an insect model (Drosophila), limiting direct generalization to humans

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "signal generator (simulated mobile communication/5G-like)",
    "frequency_mhz": 3500,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-term and long-term exposure"
  },
  "population": "Drosophila melanogaster (parent male and offspring (F1) male flies)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "activity level",
    "sleep duration",
    "heat stress response gene expression (hsp22, hsp26, hsp70)",
    "circadian clock gene expression (per, cyc, clk, cry, tim)",
    "GABA content",
    "glutamate content",
    "genes related to neurotransmitter synthesis/transport/receptors"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a simulated 3.5 GHz RF-EMR environment (0.1, 1, 10 W/m2), short-term exposure increased activity and reduced sleep duration, while long-term exposure reduced activity and increased sleep duration in F1 male flies. Under long-term exposure, heat stress response genes were increased, circadian clock gene expression was altered, and GABA and glutamate contents were reduced with altered expression of related genes.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure described in W/m2; SAR not reported",
    "Findings are from an insect model (Drosophila), limiting direct generalization to humans"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "3.5 GHz",
    "5G",
    "RF-EMR",
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "signal generator",
    "Drosophila melanogaster",
    "sleep",
    "activity",
    "circadian clock",
    "heat stress",
    "GABA",
    "glutamate"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Study explicitly frames 3.5 GHz as representative of 5G and examines biological effects."
    }
  ]
}

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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.2021.117087
PubMed: 33894629

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