Effect of Ultrahigh Frequency Radiation Emitted from 2G Cell Phone on Developing Lens of Chick Embryo: A Histological Study

A Mobile phone in operation emits a pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic field which is absorbed into the user’s body particularly the head region. Contradictory scientific reports on the health effect of nonionizing radiations on biological tissues have prompted to undertake the present study to evaluate the damage in the developing lens of a chick embryo following exposure to radiation emitted from a 2G cell phone. Fertilized chick embryos were incubated in two groups in a standard egg incubator. The experiment group was exposed to radiation emitted from a 2G cell phone. On completion of scheduled duration, the embryos were collected and processed for routine histological studies. The 9th to 12th day chick embryo eyes were processed for assessment of DNA damage using the alkaline comet assay technique. The lens thickness and the equatorial diameter were measured using oculometer and statistically compared for both groups. In the present study, the exposure of chick embryos to a 2G cell phone caused structural changes in lens epithelial cells, formation of cystic cells and spaces, distortion of lens fibers, and formation of posterior aberrant nuclear layer. The DNA damage in the developing eyes of the experiment group assessed by comet assay was highly significant. 1. Introduction Cell phones have revolutionized the wireless telecommunications industry over the past decade. It has made telecommunication faster, convenient, and more economical. The advancement in mobile phone technology with multifunctional features has attracted more cell phone users, both young and old, throughout the world with 6 billion GSM/2G cell phone users at present. This growing demand has given rise to the installment of more base stations to send and receive communication signals. These wireless telecommunication devices operate with the help of radio frequency (RF) fields just like TV, radio, radar, and microwave oven. Various scientific reports on the possible health hazards on the long term effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted from the cell phone have caused a lot of public concern. RF radiations emitted from cell phones are usually absorbed by the user’s body, especially in the head region as the handsets are held against the ear. Since the eye is in close proximity to this radiation field, a number of researches have been conducted on both human and animal models to find the possible effects of RF radiations emitted from cell phone on the eyes. RF radiation has been reported to cause both thermal and nonthermal effects in the body. According to ICNRP