Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on seed germination and root meristematic cells of Allium cepa L.

PAPER pubmed Mutation research 2009 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2008.09.022 PMID: 19028599 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) on seed germination, primary root growth as well as mitotic activity and mitotic aberrations in root meristematic cells were examined in Allium cepa L. cv. Srebrnjak Majski. Seeds were exposed for 2h to EMFs of 400 and 900MHz at field strengths of 10, 23, 41 and 120Vm(-1). The effect of longer exposure time (4h) and field modulation was investigated at 23Vm(-1) as well. Germination rate and root length did not change significantly after exposure to radiofrequency fields under any of the treatment conditions. At 900MHz, exposures to EMFs of higher field strengths (41 and 120Vm(-1)) or to modulated fields showed a significant increase of the mitotic index compared with corresponding controls, while the percentage of mitotic abnormalities increased after all exposure treatments. On the other hand, at 400MHz the mitotic index increased only after exposure to modulated EMF. At this frequency, compared with the control higher numbers of mitotic abnormalities were found after exposure to modulated EMF as well as after exposure to EMFs of higher strengths (41 and 120Vm(-1)). The types of aberration induced by the EMFs of both frequencies were quite similar, mainly consisting of lagging chromosomes, vagrants, disturbed anaphases and chromosome stickiness. Our results show that non-thermal exposure to the radiofrequency fields investigated here can induce mitotic aberrations in root meristematic cells of A. cepa. The observed effects were markedly dependent on the field frequencies applied as well as on field strength and modulation. Our findings also indicate that mitotic effects of RF-EMF could be due to impairment of the mitotic spindle.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Allium cepa L. (onion) seeds / root meristematic cells (cv. Srebrnjak Majski)

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF · 2 h (also 4 h in some conditions)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Seeds exposed to 400 or 900 MHz RF-EMF (10, 23, 41, 120 V/m; 2 h; with additional tests of 4 h and modulation at 23 V/m) showed no significant changes in germination rate or root length under any treatment. Mitotic effects were observed: at 900 MHz, higher field strengths (41 and 120 V/m) or modulated fields significantly increased the mitotic index, and mitotic abnormalities increased after all exposure treatments; at 400 MHz, the mitotic index increased only with modulated EMF, and higher numbers of mitotic abnormalities occurred with modulated EMF and with higher strengths (41 and 120 V/m).

Outcomes measured

Seed germination rate
Primary root length / root growth
Mitotic index in root meristematic cells
Mitotic aberrations / abnormalities (e.g., lagging chromosomes, vagrants, disturbed anaphases, chromosome stickiness)

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "2 h (also 4 h in some conditions)"
    },
    "population": "Allium cepa L. (onion) seeds / root meristematic cells (cv. Srebrnjak Majski)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Seed germination rate",
        "Primary root length / root growth",
        "Mitotic index in root meristematic cells",
        "Mitotic aberrations / abnormalities (e.g., lagging chromosomes, vagrants, disturbed anaphases, chromosome stickiness)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Seeds exposed to 400 or 900 MHz RF-EMF (10, 23, 41, 120 V/m; 2 h; with additional tests of 4 h and modulation at 23 V/m) showed no significant changes in germination rate or root length under any treatment. Mitotic effects were observed: at 900 MHz, higher field strengths (41 and 120 V/m) or modulated fields significantly increased the mitotic index, and mitotic abnormalities increased after all exposure treatments; at 400 MHz, the mitotic index increased only with modulated EMF, and higher numbers of mitotic abnormalities occurred with modulated EMF and with higher strengths (41 and 120 V/m).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
        "RF-EMF",
        "400 MHz",
        "900 MHz",
        "field strength",
        "V/m",
        "modulation",
        "non-thermal exposure",
        "Allium cepa",
        "seed germination",
        "root growth",
        "mitotic index",
        "mitotic aberrations",
        "chromosome abnormalities",
        "root meristematic cells"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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