03/07/2014
Influence of Non Ionizing Radiation of Base Stations on the Activity of Redox Proteins in Bovines
Michael Hässig, Marietta Wullschleger, Hanspeter P. Naegeli, Jaqueline Kupper, Bernhard Spiess, Niels Kuster, Myles Capstick, and Manuel Murbach, BMC Veterinary Research, Volume 10, Issue 136, online June 19, 2014
The IT'IS Foundation was responsible for the development of the exposure system to investigate the effects of GSM/EDGE-like base-station exposure on the bovine redox enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Within this case-controlled study, ten cows of different ages were exposed to mobile phone radiation from three patch antennas installed behind the animals. Exposure, which lasted for one month, was for an average of 16 hours per day with an incident field-level of 12 V/m (916 MHz, SD 35%), below the international limit of 41 V/m set by ICNIRP but well above the exposure limit for total EMF emission of 4.1 V/m for an individual base station as codified by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) of Switzerland in the Ordinance Relating Protection from Non-Ionising Radiation (ONIR). Blood samples taken from the cows on a daily basis were analyzed to estimate changes in the activities of GSH-PX, SOD, and CAT. Although significant changes were found in some cows for all three redox proteins, there were differences in individual response patterns. The study was sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN).
The scientific and technical impact of this study can be summarized as:
- An on-site exposure system for cows was developed for which the incident fields were characterized.
- Exposure to 12 V/m at 916 MHz induced changes in the bovine redox enzyme activity levels.
- Definitive conclusions cannot be drawn due to large inter-individual differences in the response patterns.