In These New Times

RSC Publishing

Edna Ben-Izhak Monselise, Aliza Levkovitz, Hugo E. Gottlieb and Daniel Kost

DOI: 10.1039/C1EM10031A
Received 11 Jan 2011, Accepted 26 Apr 2011
First published on the web 08 Jun 2011

Abstract

The 24 h exposure of water plants (etiolated duckweed) to RF-EMF between 7.8 V m⁻¹ and 1.8 V m⁻¹, generated by AM 1.287 MHz transmitting antennas, resulted in alanine accumulation in the plant cells, a phenomenon we have previously shown to be a universal stress signal. The magnitude of the effect corresponds qualitatively to the level of RF-EMF exposure. In the presence of 10 mM vitamin C, alanine accumulation is completely suppressed, suggesting the involvement of free radicals in the process. A unique biological connection has thus been made between exposure to RF-EMF and cell stress, in the vicinity of RF transmitting antennas. This simple test, which lasts only 24 h, constitutes a useful bioassay for the quick detection of biological cell stress caused in the vicinity of RF irradiating antennas.