A Study of Some Physiological, Cytogenetic and Molecular Parameters in a Sample of People Living Near Cell Phone Base Stations in Al-Ramadi City

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on some physiological, cytogenetic and molecular parameters of a sample of people living near 10 cell phone base stations and are exposed to its non-ionizing radiation in Al-Ramadi city for the period from 12/7/2008 to 20/8/2011. The sample consists of 30 families ( male child, female child and a grown up woman). Ten other families living far from these stations were also selected as a control group of the study. There was a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) in body temperature of the study sample 39 7c as compared to the control sample 37 7c Significant increase (P≤ 0.05) was noticed in some blood parameters in study sample like blood pressure 140.3/90mm Hg in study sample as compared to 120/75 mm Hg in control sample. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb%) 17.4 g/dl in study sample compared to 14.9 g/dlin control sample. Total white blood cells (WBCs) count 15780 cell/mm3 in study sample as compared to 7800 cell/mm3 in control sample, Erythrocyte sedimentation ratio (ESR) was 23.5 mm3/hr in study sample as compared to 18 mm3/hr in control sample. The serological study also showed that there is a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) in Potassium Ion (K+) concentration 6.8 mm/ L in study sample as compared to 4.3 mm/ L in control sample. Significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in the Prothrombin time (PT), partial Thromboplastin time (PTT), international normalization ratio (INR) 8,29,1.38 Sec. was noticed in study sample as compared to 11,34,1.1Sec. in control sample. Although the study results showed no lymphocyte chromosomal damage in study sample and control sample, molecular genetic analysis showed that EMF enhanced the molecular geno-toxic action in 31 people of study sample in the form of electrophoresis bands absence as compared to no such absence in control sample