The Effect of Electromagnetic Waves

**163**

**Chapter 9**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

tissues and converted into heat.

Effects of Electromagnetic Field

This study was conducted to explore the effects of electromagnetic waves on a developing chick embryo. The radiofrequency electromagnetic waves (RFW) emitted by different smart phones was measured by using a TriField meter. Chick fertilized eggs were placed in an egg incubator, divided into control and exposed groups. In the exposed group, a mobile phone was placed inside an incubator in call receiving mode, while in the control group, the mobile phone was not used. Studies were conducted at low and high exposure (dose) of RFW. Chick embryos were sacrificed at day 10 and day 15, and embryos were examined for mortality, gross malformation, weight, and length. Histology, electron microscopy, and Hsp 70 of liver were done for the high dose group. No mortality was observed in the low dose group; however, in the high dose group, the mortality was 14%, and deformities of the limbs and skin abnormalities were observed. Weight and length in the exposed groups were significantly lower than the control at higher dose. Histology and ultrastructure of liver revealed fatty infiltration, increase number of mitochondria, deformation, and disappearance of its cristae. Hsp 70 and mRNA levels were elevated in the exposed groups for high dose group.

**Keywords:** electromagnetic waves, mobile phone, chick embryo, liver, fatty change,

Cellular technology and broadband services are growing rapidly, resulting in a dense suffusion of nonionizing low radio frequency electromagnetic waves (RFW) in the atmosphere. This adds a new dimension to environmental pollution. Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy used in wireless communication and emitted from mobile sets which can be absorbed into body

These waves were initially thought to be harmless to the humans; however, now scientific research has revealed that these waves may cause damage to the living cells. Smart phone emits radio waves while in use which include downloading data from the internet [1, 2]. Fetus and children are more radiosensitive than adults due to the presence of embryonic stem cells [3–7]. A child born in this era will start to be exposed to electromagnetic waves exposure as soon as he is born and will remain in this environment until he dies. Divan et al. reported behavioral problems in children who were exposed to prenatal and postnatal cell phone [8, 9]. This potential

mitochondria, ultrastructure, mortality, gross morphology, histology

on the Development of Chick

Embryo: An In Vivo Study

*Najam Siddiqi and Nasser Al Nazwani*
