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GSM 900 MHz microwave radiation affects embryo development of Japanese quails.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2012 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6527

Exposure to GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation (maximum incident intensity 0.2 μW/cm2 at egg surface) was associated with increased numbers of differentiated somites in 38-hour exposed embryos (p<0.001) and increased total embryo survival after 14 days exposure…

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2012
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

A wide range of non thermal biological effects of microwave radiation (MW) was revealed during the last decades. A number of reports showed evident hazardous effects of MW on embryo development in chicken. In this study, we aimed at elucidating the effects of MW emitted by a commercial model of GSM 900 MHz cell phone on embryo development in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during both short and prolonged exposure. For that, fresh fertilized eggs were irradiated during the first 38 h or 14 days of incubation by a cell phone in "connecting" mode activated continuously through a computer system. Maximum intensity of incident radiation on the egg's surface was 0.2 μW/cm2.The irradiation led to a significant (p<0.001) increase in numbers of differentiated somites in 38-hour exposed embryos and to a significant (p<0.05) increase in total survival of embryos from exposed eggs after 14 days exposure. We hypothesized that observed facilitating effect was due to enhancement of metabolism in exposed embryos provoked via peroxidation mechanisms. Indeed, a level of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances was significantly (p<0.05-0.001) higher in brains and livers of hatchlings from exposed embryos. Thus, observed effects of radiation from commercial GSM 900 MHz cell phone on developing quail embryos signify a possibility for non-thermal impact of MW on embryogenesis. We suggest that the facilitating effect of low doses of irradiation on embryo development can be explained by a hormesis effect induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Future studies need to be done to clarify this assumption.

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
PopulationJapanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) embryos/hatchlings from fertilized eggs
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 900 MHz · Irradiation during first 38 h of incubation or for 14 days (cell phone in continuously activated "connecting" mode)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation (maximum incident intensity 0.2 μW/cm2 at egg surface) was associated with increased numbers of differentiated somites in 38-hour exposed embryos (p<0.001) and increased total embryo survival after 14 days exposure (p<0.05). TBA-reactive substances were higher in brains and livers of hatchlings from exposed embryos (p<0.05–0.001).

Outcomes measured

  • Embryo development (number of differentiated somites at 38 h)
  • Embryo survival after 14 days incubation
  • Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances in brains and livers of hatchlings (lipid peroxidation marker)

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Exposure metric reported as incident intensity (μW/cm2) without SAR or detailed dosimetry
  • Mechanistic explanations (e.g., hormesis/ROS) are hypothesized and not established
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Irradiation during first 38 h of incubation or for 14 days (cell phone in continuously activated \"connecting\" mode)"
  },
  "population": "Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) embryos/hatchlings from fertilized eggs",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Embryo development (number of differentiated somites at 38 h)",
    "Embryo survival after 14 days incubation",
    "Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances in brains and livers of hatchlings (lipid peroxidation marker)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to GSM 900 MHz cell phone radiation (maximum incident intensity 0.2 μW/cm2 at egg surface) was associated with increased numbers of differentiated somites in 38-hour exposed embryos (p<0.001) and increased total embryo survival after 14 days exposure (p<0.05). TBA-reactive substances were higher in brains and livers of hatchlings from exposed embryos (p<0.05–0.001).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure metric reported as incident intensity (μW/cm2) without SAR or detailed dosimetry",
    "Mechanistic explanations (e.g., hormesis/ROS) are hypothesized and not established"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "GSM",
    "900 MHz",
    "mobile phone",
    "microwave radiation",
    "RF exposure",
    "quail",
    "embryo development",
    "somites",
    "survival",
    "lipid peroxidation",
    "TBA reactive substances",
    "non-thermal effects"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Exposure source is a commercial GSM 900 MHz cell phone in connecting mode."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.3109/15368378.2011.624656
PubMed: 22268787

Read the original paper →

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