Despoina Mina1,2, Kostas Sagonas2, Adamantia F Fragopoulou1, Panayiotis Pafilis3, Aikaterini Skouroliakou4, Lukas H Margaritis1, Ourania E Tsitsilonis2, Efstratios D Valakos2. 1. a Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ; 2. b Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ; 3. c Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ; 4. d Department of Energy Technology Engineering , Technological Educational Institute of Athens , Athens , Greece.
Abstract
PURPOSE: During the last three decades, the number of devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the wireless communication spectrum has rapidly increased and possible effects on living organisms have become a major concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency EMR emitted by a widely used wireless communication device, namely the Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony (DECT) base, on the immune responses of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male lizards were exposed 24 h/day for 8 weeks to 1880-1900 MHz DECT base radiation at average electric field intensity of 3.2 V/m. Immune reactivity was assessed using the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin swelling and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) tests. RESULTS: Our results revealed a noticeable suppression (approximately 45%) of inflammatory responses in EMR-exposed lizards compared to sham-exposed animals. T cell-mediated responses were marginally affected. CONCLUSION: Daily radiofrequency EMR exposure seems to affect, at least partially, the immunocompetence of the Aegean wall lizard.
PURPOSE: During the last three decades, the number of devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the wireless communication spectrum has rapidly increased and possible effects on living organisms have become a major concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency EMR emitted by a widely used wireless communication device, namely the Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony (DECT) base, on the immune responses of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male lizards were exposed 24 h/day for 8 weeks to 1880-1900 MHz DECT base radiation at average electric field intensity of 3.2 V/m. Immune reactivity was assessed using the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin swelling and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) tests. RESULTS: Our results revealed a noticeable suppression (approximately 45%) of inflammatory responses in EMR-exposed lizards compared to sham-exposed animals. T cell-mediated responses were marginally affected. CONCLUSION: Daily radiofrequency EMR exposure seems to affect, at least partially, the immunocompetence of the Aegean wall lizard.