EVALUATION OF GENOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF RADIOFREQUENCY/MICROWAVE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD (RF/MW EMF) USING COMET ASSAY IN EARTHWORMS (EISENIA FETIDA)

Krešimir Malarić, Anamaria Štambuk, Maja Šrut, Mirta Tkalec

Abstract

During the last twenty years exposure of living organisms to radiofrequency/microwave electromagnetic field (RF/MW EMF) has dramatically increased, mainly because of usage of different communication systems as well as modern electronic devices. Exposure to radiation of wireless mobile phones which operate at frequencies of 900 and 1800 MHz has risen. The evaluation of effects of this kind of radiation on all living organisms is thus of great importance. In this work genotoxic effects of RF/MW radiation on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) using Comet assay were investigated. Earthworms are soil invertebrates frequently used for assessing the toxicity of different stress conditions. They were exposed to RF/MW radiation at frequency of 900 MHz and electric field strengths of 10 and 23 V m^-1 in GTEM cell during 2 hours. Obtained data showed an induction of DNA damage in earthworms exposed to RF/MW EMF at 23 V m^-1 while no increase of DNA damage was observed at 10 V m^-1 in comparison to control group. In conclusion, earthworms were proven to be sensitive model organisms for assessment of genotoxic effects of RF/MW radiation by the comet assay.

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IMEKO-TC4-2008-034.pdf

DOI

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IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

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