Influence of 400, 900, and 1900 MHz electromagnetic fields onLemna minorgrowth and peroxidase activity

Abstract

Increased use of radio and microwave frequencies requires investigations of their effects on living organisms. Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) has been commonly used as a model plant for environmental monitoring. In the present study, duckweed growth and peroxidase activity was evaluated after exposure in a Gigahertz Transversal Electromagnetic (GTEM) cell to electric fields of frequencies 400, 900, and 1900 MHz. The growth of plants exposed for 2 h to the 23 V/m electric field of 900 MHz significantly decreased in comparison with the control, while an electric field of the same strength but at 400 MHz did not have such effect. A modulated field at 900 MHz strongly inhibited the growth, while at 400 MHz modulation did not influence the growth significantly. At both frequencies a longer exposure mostly decreased the growth and the highest electric field (390 V/m) strongly inhibited the growth. Exposure of plants to lower field strength (10 V/m) for 14 h caused significant decrease at 400 and 1900 MHz while 900 MHz did not influence the growth. Peroxidase activity in exposed plants varied, depending on the exposure characteristics. Observed changes were mostly small, except in plants exposed for 2 h to 41 V/m at 900 MHz where a significant increase (41%) was found. Our results suggest that investigated electromagnetic fields (EMFs) might influence plant growth and, to some extent, peroxidase activity. However, the effects of EMFs strongly depended on the characteristics of the field exposure.

Use of GTEM-Cell and Wire Patch Cell in Calculating Thermal and Non-Thermal Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields

“…Plants were exposed to field strength of 23 V/m for 4 hours. The temperature of plants which were placed 15 cm below septum at the beginning and at the end of measurements varied no more than ± 0.1° C. This measured temperature corresponds to our model in same environment (Tkalec et al, 2005). Table 4.…”

Cell Phone Radiations Affect Early Growth of Vigna radiata (Mung Bean) through Biochemical Alterations

“…Tkalec et al (2005) observed that Lemna minor L. exposed to an electric fi eld of frequency 900 MHz for 2 h signifi cantly reduced the growth over control. Earlier, Soja et al (2003) reported a reduction in yield and straw production of wheat and corn under high tension transmission lines with an EMF in the range of 0.4 -4.5 mT.…”

“…These enzymes play an important role in encountering the stress, and provide resistance against a variety of abiotic stresses to plants (Alscher and Hess, 1993). The POX activity was enhanced (41%) in duck weed (Lemna minor L.) after exposure to an electric fi eld of 900 MHz for 2 h (Tkalec et al, 2005). Lat- er, it was observed that exposure to a non-thermal EMF of 400 and 900 MHZ induced oxidative stress in duck weed and signifi cantly increased the MDA and H 2 O 2 content, and enhanced the activities of catalases (Tkalec et al, 2007).…”

“…Atak et al (2003) reported that exposure to magnetic fi elds stimulated the root and shoot regeneration, and increased the fresh weight and total chlorophyll content in regenerated seedlings of soybean. Tkalec et al (2005) (Tkalec et al, 2007). Though effects of EMFs have drawn the attention of biologists and environmentalists, still there is lack of literature regarding the effect of EMFs, particularly of mobile phones, on early growth and associated biochemical changes in plants.…”

Effects of Gsm900 Electromagnetic Fields on Some Parameters of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Crop Plants Wheat, Maize and Peas

“…Ïðåç ïîñëåäíèòå ãîäèíè íàðàñòâà èíòåðåñúò íà ó÷åíèòå êúì åôåêòèòå íà ÅÌÏ îò ìîáèëíè òåëåôîíè âúðõó ðàñòåíèÿ. Ðåçóëòàòèòå îò ïðîâåäåíèòå èçñëåä-âàíèÿ ïîêàçâàò, ÷å ðàñòåíèÿòà ðåàãèðàò íà òåçè ÅÌÏ êàòî íà ñòðåñîâ ôàêòîð (Beaubois, 2007;Roux, 2008; T. Selga and M.Selga, 1996;Tafforeau, 2004;Tkalec, 2005Tkalec, , 2007Vian, 2006).…”