**3. Results and discussions**

Based on the established methodologies, we start with the climatic variables of the laboratory such as temperature and relative humidity (RH) in the environment. For this cold weather situation, the mice gradually adapt according to their habit of developing in glass cages, where they present concerns for their immunological and psychological development. Initially, the mouse has a social characteristic and is kept in groups without any problem; these groups form quickly once they are introduced to the glass cage. However, the males of both strains (boxes) begin to show their aggressiveness on the 15th day, even though these groups have not fully established themselves in their habitat. Low temperatures in the laboratory cause a death of 15% of the samples, which causes a controlled heat system to be introduced at certain hours of the night, in order to avoid the loss of the samples. Once these environmental conditions of temperature and humidity were established, the mice showed greater social activity among themselves. At the time of providing the corresponding food, there should have been a procedure for an adequate food balance, such as composition, meeting growth needs, and coat maintenance, the latter being a main aspect of observation, which thanks to this I show some allergies and/or poor digestion in gnawing some cereals.

Therefore, the feeding that is supplied to the mice must have the necessary amounts in fiber and nutrients; in addition, it must be considered that these animals always seek to gnaw some food; that is why much of the diet is concentrated in cereals such as wheat and corn. However, their diet is also concentrated on green foods and nuts in addition to proportions of potatoes, carrots, and other foods that help in growth. It is evident that balanced food that exists for domestic animals such as cats and dogs are attractive to the mouse, the same that causes the fur of the mouse to increase and be much finer. This leads us to have two affirmations: the first is that the food has enough vitamins and they consume in greater quantity in addition to having the corresponding hardness to gnaw. The second is that the taste sensation in some mice causes the bowel movements to be inconsistent but rather causes foul smelling diarrhea that is not favorable to the mouse. Therefore, the nutrition of the mice had processes through which the biological body transforms and uses the nutrients to obtain enough energy, as well as to maintain and repair the tissues since the organism needs to acquire an external contribution of matter, essential for getting the substances that regulate the metabolic processes of the mouse.

It is important to consider the feeding for cold places should be a maximum of 5.7 to 7.5 g of food per mouse; the above is subject to consideration depending on the climate of the region. It should also be considered that the water supply should never be missing in either of the two sample boxes, in a quantity of 250 ml per day. The adaptation time of the mice in the climatic conditions of the city of Potosí


#### **Table 1.**

*Body mass control at adaptation time.*

was 33 days; currently, there was the loss of samples due to the climate conditions, where the extreme coldest temperature was −4°C. Despite the fact that the environment is controlled, it is important to consider that carbohydrate feeding increases between 10 and 15% on these cold days, since the body of the mice needs to create a greater amount of fat for their protection from weather conditions. In the laboratory, there is a heat regulator so that the temperature does not drop abruptly in the implemented environment (**Table 1**).

Once the adaptation of the mice has been achieved, parallel to this and for a time of 70 days, the accumulated average values of the power density of electromagnetic radiation are shown; according to the density of users, these levels of power increase during daylight hours, especially in the periods from 12:00 to 13:00 and approximately 18:30 to 20:00. This action is because many people today use the mobile phone, for immediate communication, which causes the concentration of power in some parts of the city to increase; so it is right where there is a telecommunication antenna, especially mobile telephony, will have a quasi-similar behavior to that of the following graph.

Although the graph in **Figure 5** shows high peaks, it must be considered that the irradiation activity was continuous; this means that the levels of electromagnetic radiation increased progressively, making use of commercial mobile phones. Where the power density generated by each of the cell phones does not exceed the value of 5 (mW/cm2 ), this is based on the ICNIRP international standards, giving certainty of compliance with this.

In knowledge of these aspects, it is important to explain the behavior of mice exposed to these electromagnetic fields. It should be considered that the irradiation was progressive, considering that adaptation to the environmental conditions of the city of Potosí, also influence mice, which influences the behavior of hyperactivity, feeding, and growth. For the analysis of the irradiation of electromagnetic fields on the mice, a detailed control was carried out, starting with the division and marking of each mouse, with great care, where it identifies individually the behavior of feeding (appetite), thirst (water consumption), sleep, aggressiveness, hyperactivity,

**15**

**Figure 6.**

**Figure 5.**

*Chart of stress levels without exposure (left) and with exposure (right) to EMF.*

*Temporal behavior of the power density of non-ionizing radiation.*

*The Influence of Electromagnetic Fields on the Behavior of Mice*

irritability of the eyes, and bedding (mouse nest). Each of these aspects is considered as a variable, the same that is registered in a Likert table; this evaluation allows describing the physiological conditions, that is, the stress level of each mouse in the adaptation period, as well as in the gradual exposure to concentrated electromagnetic field levels in the experimental environment. The Likert levels adopted for this situation were as follows: normal level: 1 to 21; medium or moderate level: 22 to 42; and high or acute level: 43 to 63. Based on these considerations, **Figure 6** shows the

These last two graphs show admirable considerations at the level of the behavior of mice, especially on stress, generated by electromagnetic fields. It is interesting to discuss why this exposure to electromagnetic fields influences the behavior of mice, taking the following explanatory points of observation that are evident in

**Adaptation aspect and without exposure to electromagnetic fields:** mice in the adaptation period show conflicting behavior in the first week, and in some cases, the isolation of some of the samples is evident, causing the normal level of stress to be high; however, over time, this decreased in this period. Despite having an extensive controlled diet of fibers, minerals, and others, some of the mice were unable to adapt to the environment; this is due to the low temperatures recorded. The death of the mice was not only due to the climate but also due to the fight between the dominant males of the herd; there was also the fight between some females and some males; this is due to the desire for reproduction which produced the death of some samples. Between the second and fourth weeks, it is evident that the mice begin to have an organizational system with respect to their habitat. From the third week on,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93320*

behavior of the mice in general.

experimentation.

### *The Influence of Electromagnetic Fields on the Behavior of Mice DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93320*

*Rodents*

**Table 1.**

**Mouse ID**

**Initial mass (g)**

was 33 days; currently, there was the loss of samples due to the climate conditions, where the extreme coldest temperature was −4°C. Despite the fact that the environment is controlled, it is important to consider that carbohydrate feeding increases between 10 and 15% on these cold days, since the body of the mice needs to create a greater amount of fat for their protection from weather conditions. In the laboratory, there is a heat regulator so that the temperature does not drop abruptly in the

**Box 1 Box 2**

 11.54 19.45 1 10.45 20.71 13.45 20.45 2 9.25 — 11.23 23.81 3 10.33 24.56 10.45 — 4 12.31 24.67 12.25 29.83 5 11.37 20.12 12.64 29.68 6 12.15 31.84 11.34 — 7 11.57 22.64 10.57 — 8 10.28 — 12.52 24.67 9 9.92 27.37 9.89 23.58 10 9.72 — 10.29 — 11 10.84 25.36 11.64 23.37 12 11.71 23.37

**Mouse ID**

**Initial mass (g)**

**Final mass at the end of adaptation time (g)**

**Final mass at the end of adaptation time (g)**

*Source: U.A. "T.F."—FAUTAPO—Physic Department, Investigation Roberto Vera.*

Once the adaptation of the mice has been achieved, parallel to this and for a time

Although the graph in **Figure 5** shows high peaks, it must be considered that the irradiation activity was continuous; this means that the levels of electromagnetic radiation increased progressively, making use of commercial mobile phones. Where the power density generated by each of the cell phones does not exceed the value of

In knowledge of these aspects, it is important to explain the behavior of mice exposed to these electromagnetic fields. It should be considered that the irradiation was progressive, considering that adaptation to the environmental conditions of the city of Potosí, also influence mice, which influences the behavior of hyperactivity, feeding, and growth. For the analysis of the irradiation of electromagnetic fields on the mice, a detailed control was carried out, starting with the division and marking of each mouse, with great care, where it identifies individually the behavior of feeding (appetite), thirst (water consumption), sleep, aggressiveness, hyperactivity,

), this is based on the ICNIRP international standards, giving certainty

of 70 days, the accumulated average values of the power density of electromagnetic radiation are shown; according to the density of users, these levels of power increase during daylight hours, especially in the periods from 12:00 to 13:00 and approximately 18:30 to 20:00. This action is because many people today use the mobile phone, for immediate communication, which causes the concentration of power in some parts of the city to increase; so it is right where there is a telecommunication antenna, especially mobile telephony, will have a quasi-similar behavior

implemented environment (**Table 1**).

*Body mass control at adaptation time.*

to that of the following graph.

of compliance with this.

**14**

5 (mW/cm2

irritability of the eyes, and bedding (mouse nest). Each of these aspects is considered as a variable, the same that is registered in a Likert table; this evaluation allows describing the physiological conditions, that is, the stress level of each mouse in the adaptation period, as well as in the gradual exposure to concentrated electromagnetic field levels in the experimental environment. The Likert levels adopted for this situation were as follows: normal level: 1 to 21; medium or moderate level: 22 to 42; and high or acute level: 43 to 63. Based on these considerations, **Figure 6** shows the behavior of the mice in general.

These last two graphs show admirable considerations at the level of the behavior of mice, especially on stress, generated by electromagnetic fields. It is interesting to discuss why this exposure to electromagnetic fields influences the behavior of mice, taking the following explanatory points of observation that are evident in experimentation.

**Adaptation aspect and without exposure to electromagnetic fields:** mice in the adaptation period show conflicting behavior in the first week, and in some cases, the isolation of some of the samples is evident, causing the normal level of stress to be high; however, over time, this decreased in this period. Despite having an extensive controlled diet of fibers, minerals, and others, some of the mice were unable to adapt to the environment; this is due to the low temperatures recorded. The death of the mice was not only due to the climate but also due to the fight between the dominant males of the herd; there was also the fight between some females and some males; this is due to the desire for reproduction which produced the death of some samples. Between the second and fourth weeks, it is evident that the mice begin to have an organizational system with respect to their habitat. From the third week on,

**Figure 5.** *Temporal behavior of the power density of non-ionizing radiation.*

**Figure 6.** *Chart of stress levels without exposure (left) and with exposure (right) to EMF.*

*Rodents*

the mice show permanent exploration activity within their vital areas or domains they constantly explore in their environment, both the known and new elements or objects, whether sniffing, gnawing (biting), and tasting food and liquids found in the glass cage. We consider the organization and the exploratory activities carried out by the mice as relevant, however it is important to highlight that, at the time of periodically cleaning the cages, it is evident that urine stools defecation, frequently they are positioned in the same place away from the power supply and water.

**Aspect of behavior of mice with exposure to electromagnetic fields:** it is evident that in the second graph (right) of **Figure 6**, it shows that the behavior of mice in their stress levels gradually increases, from the lowest (tranquility), going through the moderate level to the level of watery aggressiveness. It is evident that the influence of electromagnetic field or radiation has a great direct influence on the behavior of mice exposed to these physical agents; despite the fact that the average energy accumulated per minute does not exceed 350 mJ, it is the same as it is a very low energy, compared to the molecular resonance that occurs for the ionization of the molecules. However, considering the physical principles of electromagnetic wave interaction with matter and its penetration on these biological bodies, we affirm that energy can accumulate according to the principle of wave superposition for certain time. This aspect causes an invisible concentrated field of energy to exist in the cages and the experimental environment, the same that increases the temperature level that is perceptible to mice; so, the behavioral changes in their habitat and physiology are very noticeable and progressive. The influence of electromagnetic radiation, emanating from different sources, causes a natural and necessary response for survival in the mouse; so, these actions give rise to the following aspects:


**17**

*The Influence of Electromagnetic Fields on the Behavior of Mice*

the activated source of electromagnetic radiation (mobile phone) avoid being close to it. The mice feel discomfort in the whiskers more frequently when the active electromagnetic signal is increased (when the cell phone is switched on); the frictions that are made in the presence of this physical agent develop

All these exposed aspects show an explanation of how the influence of electromagnetic fields in prolonged periods influence the behavior of mice both in their

The presence of electromagnetic fields within the environmental environment has grown progressively according to the human population density. The direct or indirect influence of these fields generates an uncomfortable presence in the habitat of an animal, especially for those animals that are sensitive to the variation of the intensities of static or dynamic electromagnetic fields, proof of this is the behavior of the mice within this study which are sensitive to the increase in the levels of

Mice, without the influence of electromagnetic fields, present an organization within their habitat, which demonstrate dynamic hyperactivity in their life cycle. On the other hand, if the conditions of their habitat are abiotic due to the influence of electromagnetic fields, the mice present different levels of behavior, raising their

In an epilog, it can be concluded that the action of the electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones directly influences mice on their level of behavior and their habitat. Furthermore, when the presence of this signal exists, the mice avoid

The authors are grateful to the FAUTAPO foundation, for making possible the purchase of equipment for the investigation of electromagnetic fields in the non-

stress conditions, for example, in aggressiveness and irritation of the eyes.

proximity by activating intrinsic prevention in each one of them.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93320*

irritation in the mouse's snout.

stress levels and in their physiology.

**4. Conclusions**

electromagnetic fields.

**Acknowledgements**

ionizing spectrum.

the activated source of electromagnetic radiation (mobile phone) avoid being close to it. The mice feel discomfort in the whiskers more frequently when the active electromagnetic signal is increased (when the cell phone is switched on); the frictions that are made in the presence of this physical agent develop irritation in the mouse's snout.

All these exposed aspects show an explanation of how the influence of electromagnetic fields in prolonged periods influence the behavior of mice both in their stress levels and in their physiology.
