ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Electromagnetic Waves Emitted
by Mobile Phones on Germination, Root Growth,
and Root Tip Cell Mitotic Division
of Lens culinaris Medik
Ayhan Akbal1, Yasar Kiran2, Ahmet Sahin3, Dilek Turgut-Balik4, Hasan H. Balik5
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1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
2Department of Biology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
3Department of Secondary Science and Mathematics Education, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
4Department of Bioengineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
5Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Istanbul Arel University, Istanbul, Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(1):23-29
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
In this study, the effects of electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones operating at 1800 MHz
were investigated on germination, root growth and mitotic division of root tips of Lens culinaris Medik. Seeds
were split into three groups. The first group was exposed to a mobile phone electromagnetic field for 48 hours
at the state of dormancy, and the second group was exposed to the same electromagnetic field at the state of
division. The third group, the control group, was not exposed to an electromagnetic field beyond the natural
background. The results obtained in the study indicate that electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones
affect seeds in the state of dormancy more than the state of germination. Germination rate was not affected
under the specified exposure conditions, but root growth decreased due to a possible effect of oxidative stress
in the state of dormant seeds. There was also a noticeable increment in the c-mitosis rates, especially in the
state of dormant seeds. The reason for this increment could be problems in spindle function.