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Effect of DECT non-ionizing radiation on cultivated plants of Arabidopsis thaliana

2016 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1452

After long-term exposure to non-ionizing radiation emitted from a cordless DECT base unit, exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed reduced total biomass and changes in leaf structure compared with controls. Leaves were thinner with fewer chloroplasts; SEM …

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effect of DECT non-ionizing radiation on cultivated plants of Arabidopsis thaliana Aikaterina L. Stefia, Lukas H. Margaritisb, Nikolaos S. Christodoulakisa. The effect of the non-ionizing radiation on cultivated plants of Arabidopsis thaliana (Col.). Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. Volume 223, August 2016, Pages 114-120. dx.doi.org Highlights • Arabidopsis thaliana plants grow under long term microwave radiation. • Minor structural changes observed. • Chloroplast number affected. • Photosynthetic pigment content affected. • Total biomass reduced. Abstract A series of experiments was carried out to investigate any structural or biochemical alterations on Arabidopsis thaliana (Col.) plants after a long term exposure to non ionizing radiation emitted from the base unit of a cordless DECT system. Exposed plants, compared to their control counterparts, seem to be affected concerning their biomass and leaf structure. Their leaves are thinner and possess fewer chloroplasts. SEM observations of the exposed leaves reveal that the only feature affected is the pubescence which almost disappears while TEM investigation revealed minor structural effects in the chloroplasts. The reduction in the number of chloroplasts as well as the decrease of stroma thylakoids and photosynthetic pigments are probably the main reasons for a weak photosynthetic potential and a consequent reduction of the biomass production. sciencedirect.com

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
PopulationArabidopsis thaliana (Col.) cultivated plants
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave · long term
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After long-term exposure to non-ionizing radiation emitted from a cordless DECT base unit, exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed reduced total biomass and changes in leaf structure compared with controls. Leaves were thinner with fewer chloroplasts; SEM indicated pubescence almost disappeared, and TEM showed minor structural effects in chloroplasts along with decreased stroma thylakoids and photosynthetic pigments.

Outcomes measured

  • biomass production
  • leaf structure/thickness
  • chloroplast number
  • chloroplast ultrastructure (TEM)
  • leaf surface pubescence (SEM)
  • stroma thylakoids
  • photosynthetic pigment content
  • photosynthetic potential (inferred from pigments/chloroplast changes)

Limitations

  • No exposure frequency, power density, or SAR reported in the abstract
  • Sample size not reported in the abstract
  • Experimental design details (randomization/blinding, exposure setup, control conditions) not described in the abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "cordless DECT base unit",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long term"
  },
  "population": "Arabidopsis thaliana (Col.) cultivated plants",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "biomass production",
    "leaf structure/thickness",
    "chloroplast number",
    "chloroplast ultrastructure (TEM)",
    "leaf surface pubescence (SEM)",
    "stroma thylakoids",
    "photosynthetic pigment content",
    "photosynthetic potential (inferred from pigments/chloroplast changes)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After long-term exposure to non-ionizing radiation emitted from a cordless DECT base unit, exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed reduced total biomass and changes in leaf structure compared with controls. Leaves were thinner with fewer chloroplasts; SEM indicated pubescence almost disappeared, and TEM showed minor structural effects in chloroplasts along with decreased stroma thylakoids and photosynthetic pigments.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "No exposure frequency, power density, or SAR reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Experimental design details (randomization/blinding, exposure setup, control conditions) not described in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "DECT",
    "non-ionizing radiation",
    "microwave radiation",
    "cordless phone base unit",
    "Arabidopsis thaliana",
    "chloroplasts",
    "photosynthetic pigments",
    "biomass",
    "SEM",
    "TEM"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "smart-meters",
      "weight": 0.15,
      "reason": "Cordless DECT base unit is a consumer RF source; closest available hub among common household RF devices, though not a direct match."
    }
  ]
}
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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.flora.2016.05.008
PubMed: Not supplied

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