Exposure to 2100MHz Electromagnetic field radiations induces reactive oxygen species generation in Allium cepa roots

Publication date: Available online 8 September 2017 Source:Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure Author(s): Shikha Chandel, Shalinder Kaur, Harminder Pal Singh, Daizy Rani Batish, Ravinder Kumar Kohli During the last few decades there has been an enormous increase in the usage of cell phones as these are one of the most convenient gadgets and provide excellent mode of communication without evoking any hindrance to movement. However, these are significantly adding to the electromagnetic field radiations (EMF-r) in the environment and thus, are required to be analysed for their impacts on living beings. The present study investigated the role of cell phone EMF-r in inciting oxidative damage in onion (Allium cepa) roots at a frequency of 2100MHz. Onion roots were exposed to continuous wave homogenous EMF-r for 1, 2 and 4h for single day and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2 −) content and changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes- superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured. The results showed that EMF-r exposure enhanced the content of MDA, H2O2 and O2 −. Also, there was an upregulation in the activity of antioxidant enzymes− SOD and CAT− in onion roots. The study concluded that 2100MHz cell phone EMF-r incite oxidative damage in onion roots by altering the oxidative metabolism.
Source: Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure - Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research