**1. Introduction**

 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 tissues and converted into heat.

 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

hazard is more serious in developing countries, where the reported prevalence of mobile phone use by adolescents is more than 90%. Oman is ranked 10th in the world after Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait, and Panama [10, 11]. Excessive use of mobile phones and base stations in the vicinity of residential areas are linked to symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, dizziness, memory loss, and increased risk of cancer were first reported as "Microwave sickness" in 1978 [2]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, classified RFW as a "possible human carcinogen" which is published in "Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs", Volumes 1–109 (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/ Classification/Classifications Alpha Order.pdf). An increase incidence of thyroid cancer in South Korea and gliomas in Sweden were recently reported, and excessive use of mobile phones was held responsible to be a possible cause [12, 13]. Childhood leukemia in children is another disease due to exposer to RFW. Functions of the central nervous system [14], permeability of the blood brain barrier [15], and melatonin synthesis [16] are also affected.

To further study the effects of radio waves, the chick animal model has been used in the past. Laboratories have reported a high mortality of chicken embryos and malformations when exposed to electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones. The phenomenon was reported to be dose dependent [17–23]. The embryonic cells rapidly proliferate, differentiate, migrate, and suffer from apoptosis. During these processes, the cells generate electric currents which can be affected by the RFW [24]. This study was designed to observe the effects of electromagnetic field emitted by a mobile phone on rapidly proliferating cells in the developing chicken embryo.

#### **1.1 Hypothesis**

Rapidly proliferating and dividing cells are affected by RFW exposure, and this may be a dose dependent phenomenon.

## **2. Mobile phone RFW classification**

 The TriField meter revealed different intensities of electromagnetic waves from different mobile sets. The intensity of RFW was divided into four groups as follows: group 1: 0.01–0.1 mW/cm2 , group 2: 0.1–0.2 mW/cm2 , group 3: 0.2–0.1 mW/cm2 , and group 4: >1 mW/cm2 .

All the old mobile sets were placed in group 4 showing the highest levels of radiation (>1 mW/cm2 ) which is recommended dangerous to health. Mostly, the smart phones were in groups 1 (0.01–0.1 mW/cm<sup>2</sup> ), 2 (0.1–0.2 mW/cm2 ), and 3 (0.2–1 mW/cm<sup>2</sup> ), but few in group 4. It was further observed that downloading from the net using WiFi also results in high levels of radiations (**Figure 1**).

#### **3. Low dose (total 200–300 minutes)**

#### **3.1 Methods**

This is an animal experimental research study using "Cobb" (*Gallus gallus domesticus*) breed zero-day fertilized chicken eggs. These eggs were provided by Sohar Poultry Company S.A.O.G. (PO Box 2808, Ruwi, Postal code 112, Sultanate of Oman). 120 fertilized eggs were used for this experiment. 60 eggs were randomly divided into either the control or the exposed groups.
