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Low-amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes delayed and reduced growth in Rosa hybrida.

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Grémiaux A, Girard S, Guérin V, Lothier J, Baluška F, Davies E, Bonnet P, Vian A. · 2015

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Rose bushes exposed to cell phone frequencies showed 45% reduced growth in developing shoots at non-thermal power levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

French researchers exposed rose bushes to 900MHz electromagnetic fields (the same frequency used by cell phones) and tracked their growth for over a month. They found that EMF exposure significantly reduced growth by 45% in newly developing shoots, but only when plants were exposed at their earliest development stage. The effect occurred at extremely low power levels, ruling out heating as the cause.

Why This Matters

This study adds compelling evidence that radiofrequency EMF can disrupt biological development at non-thermal levels. The researchers used the same 900MHz frequency found in GSM cell phones, and the SAR level (0.00072 W/kg) was far below what causes tissue heating. What makes this research particularly significant is its demonstration that timing matters - EMF exposure only affected newly forming plant structures, not pre-existing ones. This suggests that developing biological systems may be especially vulnerable to RF radiation. The 45% growth reduction observed here parallels concerning findings in animal studies showing EMF effects on embryonic development. While plants aren't humans, they share fundamental cellular processes with us, and this research strengthens the case that our current safety standards, based solely on heating effects, may be inadequate to protect developing organisms.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.00072 W/kg
Electric Field
5 and 200 V/m
Source/Device
900MHz

Exposure Context

This study used 5 and 200 V/m for electric fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.00072 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 2,222x higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Low-amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes delayed and reduced growth in Rosa hybrida.

We exposed whole small ligneous plants (rose bush) whose growth could be studied for several weeks. ...

We observed no growth modification whatsoever exposure was performed on the 5-leaf stage plants. Whe...

These results suggest that exposure to electromagnetic field only affected development of post-formed organs.

Cite This Study
Grémiaux A, Girard S, Guérin V, Lothier J, Baluška F, Davies E, Bonnet P, Vian A. (2015). Low-amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes delayed and reduced growth in Rosa hybrida. J Plant Physiol. 190:44-53, 2015.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2015_lowamplitude_highfrequency_electromagnetic_field_1002,
  author = {Grémiaux A and Girard S and Guérin V and Lothier J and Baluška F and Davies E and Bonnet P and Vian A.},
  title = {Low-amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes delayed and reduced growth in Rosa hybrida.},
  year = {2015},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26643955/},
}
PubMed: 26643955

Cited By (40 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, French researchers found that 900 MHz electromagnetic fields reduced growth by 45% in newly developing rose shoots. However, this effect only occurred when plants were exposed during their earliest development stage, not when exposed later in growth.
Research on rose plants shows 900 MHz EMF exposure causes delayed growth specifically in post-formed organs that develop after EMF exposure begins. Pre-existing plant structures and organs formed from pre-existing buds showed no growth changes.
Rose plants showed reduced growth at extremely low power levels with a SAR of 7.2 × 10⁻⁴ W/kg. This power level is far too low to cause heating effects, indicating the biological response occurs through non-thermal mechanisms.
No, mature rose plants at the 5-leaf stage showed no growth modifications when exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic fields. Only plants exposed as rooted cuttings during early development displayed the 45% growth reduction in new shoots.
The study tracked rose plants for over a month after 900 MHz EMF exposure. Growth effects were consistently observed only in secondary shoots that developed at the top of the main axis, specifically those formed after the EMF exposure period began.