title: In vitro exposure: Linear and non-linear thermodynamic events in Petri dishes.
abstract: We conducted an electromagnetic-thermal analysis of Petri dishes filled with different medium volumes under different radio frequency exposure conditions with the aim of identifying linear and non-linear parameters that might explain contradictory results of many in vitro bioelectromagnetic experiments. We found that power loss density and temperature depend on shape, size, and orientation of the exposed sample with respect to direction of incident energy, showing that the liquid medium acts as a receiving antenna. In addition, we investigated the possibility of convection from thermodynamic principles within the liquid medium. For a 35 mm diameter Petri dish, a 2 or 4 ml medium volume is too small to support vertical convection. Conversely, horizontal convective motion is possible for H-polarization exposures at 1.8 GHz.
authors.affiliation: ICEmB (Italian Interuniversity Center Electromagnetic Field and Biosystems) at "La Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paffi
authors.affiliation: ICEmB (Italian Interuniversity Center Electromagnetic Field and Biosystems) at "La Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liberti
authors.affiliation: ICEmB (Italian Interuniversity Center Electromagnetic Field and Biosystems) at "La Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Apollonio
authors.affiliation: Asher Sheppard Consulting, Santa Rosa, California.
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.
authors.forename: Quirino
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Balzano
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003300:Copper; D003470:Culture Media; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004867:Equipment Design; D016014:Linear Models; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011846:Radio Waves; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics; D015032:Zinc
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; C048399:brass; D003300:Copper; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D015032:Zinc
keywords: RF exposure; antennas; convection; numerical dosimetry; thermal analysis