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Brain & Nervous System

Mobile phone electromagnetic radiation activates MAPK signaling and regulates viability in Drosophila.

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Lee KS, Choi JS, Hong SY, Son TH, Yu K. · 2008

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At the ANSI exposure limit, mobile phone EMF triggered survival signaling in Drosophila, while a stronger dose activated apoptotic signaling.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied biological effects of mobile phone 835 MHz electromagnetic fields in Drosophila at SAR 1.6 W/kg and SAR 4.0 W/kg. At SAR 1.6 W/kg, more than 90% of flies remained viable even after the 30 h exposure, while at SAR 4.0 W/kg viability dropped from the 12 h exposure. Both exposure levels triggered a stress response, increased reactive oxygen species production, and activated ERK and JNK signaling, but not p38 kinase signaling. SAR 4.0 W/kg strongly activated JNK signaling, expression of apoptotic genes, and amplified the number of apoptotic cells in the fly brain.

Why This Matters

The study used Drosophila as a model to examine biological effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields at different intensities. SAR 1.6 W/kg was tested because it is the proposed exposure limit by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), while SAR 4.0 W/kg represented a stronger level of exposure. At the ANSI limit dose, the dominant molecular response was activation of ERK signaling and expression of an anti-apoptotic gene. At the higher dose, JNK signaling and apoptotic gene expression were strongly activated, and apoptotic cell numbers rose in the brain.

Exposure Details

SAR
1.6 and 4 W/kg
Source/Device
835 MHz
Exposure Duration
continuous for 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h

Exposure Context

This study used 1.6 and 4 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

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: 1.6 and 4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 835 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 835 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

In this report, we show biological effects of the mobile phone 835 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) in the Drosophila model system.

When flies were exposed to the specific absorption rate (SAR) 1.6 W/kg, which is the proposed expos...

These findings demonstrate that the exposure limit on electromagnetic radiation proposed by ANSI triggered ERK‐survival signaling but the strong electromagnetic radiation activated JNK‐apoptotic signaling in Drosophila.

Cite This Study
Lee KS, Choi JS, Hong SY, Son TH, Yu K. (2008). Mobile phone electromagnetic radiation activates MAPK signaling and regulates viability in Drosophila. Bioelectromagnetics. 29(5):371-379, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{ks_2008_mobile_phone_electromagnetic_radiation_120,
  author = {Lee KS and Choi JS and Hong SY and Son TH and Yu K.},
  title = {Mobile phone electromagnetic radiation activates MAPK signaling and regulates viability in Drosophila.},
  year = {2008},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20395},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20395},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20395

Cited By (45 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study examined biological effects of mobile phone EMF in the Drosophila model system.
More than 90% of flies remained viable even after the 30 h exposure at SAR 1.6 W/kg, the proposed ANSI limit.
At SAR 4.0 W/kg, viability dropped from the 12 h exposure.
Both exposure levels activated ERK and JNK signaling, but not p38 kinase signaling.
At SAR 4.0 W/kg, the number of apoptotic cells in the fly brain was amplified.