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Reactive oxygen species elevation and recovery in Drosophila bodies and ovaries following short-term and long-term exposure to DECT base EMF

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Manta AK, Stravopodis DJ, Papassideri IS, Margaritis LH. · 2014

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Exposure to DECT base radiation raised reactive oxygen species levels in Drosophila bodies and ovaries, but levels returned to normal after exposure ended.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the bodies and ovaries of 4-day-old Drosophila melanogaster flies after exposing them to DECT base radiation at 1.88–1.90 GHz. Male and female bodies showed a twofold increase in ROS levels after 6 hours of exposure, with ROS levels returning to normal 24 hours after that exposure ended. Ovaries responded more quickly, reaching a 2.5-fold ROS increase after 1 hour of exposure, with levels returning to normal 4 hours after that exposure ended.

Why This Matters

The study was designed to investigate possible mechanisms behind previously reported ovarian cell death and reduced fertility in Drosophila exposed to nonionizing radiation. The electrical field intensity within the fly vials was 2.7 V/m, and the calculated specific absorption rate was 0.009 W/Kg. The radiation was pulsed at a 100 Hz rate and 0.08 ms duration, representing the idle state of a DECT base. The researchers postulated that even at very low SAR, this pulsed radiation may be capable of inducing free radical formation, leading to ROS accumulation during continuous exposure. Recovery of ROS levels after exposure ended was suggested to possibly be due to activation of the antioxidant machinery of the organism.

Exposure Details

SAR
0.009 W/kg
Electric Field
2.7 V/m
Source/Device
1.88–1.90 GHz
Exposure Duration
0.5, 1, 6, 24 and 96 h

Exposure Context

This study used 2.7 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: 0.009 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Slight Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 178 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 1.90 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 1.90 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The objective of this study was to approach the basic mechanism(s) underlying reported ovarian apoptotic cell death and fecundity decrease induced by nonionizing radiation (NIR) in Drosophila melanogaster

ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) levels were measured in the bodies and the ovaries of (sexually mature...

Male and female bodies showed twofold increase in ROS levels (p < 0.001) after 6 h of exposure, slig...

It is postulated that the pulsed (at 100 Hz rate and 0.08 ms duration) idle state of the DECT base radiation is capable of inducing free radical formation albeit the very low SAR, leading rapidly to accumulation of ROS in a level-saturation manner under continuous exposure, or in a recovery manner after interruption of radiation, possibly due to activation of the antioxidant machinery of the organism.

Cite This Study
Manta AK, Stravopodis DJ, Papassideri IS, Margaritis LH. (2014). Reactive oxygen species elevation and recovery in Drosophila bodies and ovaries following short-term and long-term exposure to DECT base EMF Electromagn Biol Med. 33(2):118-131, 2014.
Show BibTeX
@article{ak_2014_reactive_oxygen_species_elevation_549,
  author = {Manta AK and Stravopodis DJ and Papassideri IS and Margaritis LH.},
  title = {Reactive oxygen species elevation and recovery in Drosophila bodies and ovaries following short-term and long-term exposure to DECT base EMF},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.3109/15368378.2013.791991},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2013.791991},
}
DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2013.791991

Cited By (30 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The flies were exposed to wireless DECT base radiation at 1.88–1.90 GHz, with an electrical field intensity of 2.7 V/m.
Male and female bodies showed a twofold increase in ROS levels after 6 hours of exposure, slightly increasing with more irradiation at 24 and 96 hours.
Ovaries responded faster, showing a 1.5-fold ROS increase after 0.5 hours and reaching a 2.5-fold increase after 1 hour, with no further elevation at 6, 24, or 96 hours.
ROS levels returned to normal in male and female bodies 24 hours after 6 hours of exposure, and in ovaries 4 hours after 1 hour of exposure.
The researchers suggested that recovery after exposure ended may possibly be due to activation of the antioxidant machinery of the organism.