Effect of electromagnetic waves on the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and the sperm morphology of rats (rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

Every year, millions of people are added to the total number of mobile telephone users. The convenience of this device is indisputable but its safety remains inconclusive. Questions are still asked all around the world about mobile telephone safety and whether these phones pose a hazard to health. Electromagnetic waves (EMWs) are made up of linked electric and magnetic components moving together through space at the speed of light. The electric and magnetic components that form EMWs can be referred to as radiofrequency fields. The present work searched for the cytogenetic effect of EMWs emitted from mobile telephones and their relay stations. This was achieved using Micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) and an examination of the sperm abnormality of rats. The data obtained revealed a marked increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte cells that were taken from bone marrow cells and sperm abnormality from the testes of rats exposed for 2 weeks to electromagnetic waves emitted from global systems for mobile telephone communication base stations and mobile telephone systems. The obtained results were significant at the statistical level. In addition, the frequency of micronucleus formation was more affected in the group of rats exposed to mobile telephone systems than others and remained high in the recovery group. Also, the frequency of sperm abnormality was more sensitive in the day group of telephone base station rats than others. In the present work, the results indicated that prolonged exposure to the EMWs emitted from global systems for mobile communication base stations or cellular mobile telephone communication causes clastogenic effects at the level of MNPCEs as well as abnormally shaped sperm. ©2012 The Japan Mendel Society.