title: The effect of electromagnetic radiation emitted by display screens on cell oxygen metabolism - in vitro studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research studies carried out for decades have not solved the problem of the effect of electromagnetic radiation of various frequency and strength on the human organism. Due to this fact, we decided to investigate the changes taking place in human blood platelets under the effect of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by LCD monitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The changes of selected parameters of oxygen metabolism were measured, i.e. reactive oxygen species concentration, enzymatic activity of antioxidant defence proteins - superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and catalase (CAT) - and malondialdehyde concentration (MDA). A suspension of human blood platelets was exposed to electromagnetic radiation of 1 kHz frequency and 150 V/m and 220 V/m intensity for 30 and 60 min. The level of changes of the selected parameters of oxidative stress was determined after the exposure and compared to the control samples (not exposed).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurements revealed an increase of the concentration of reactive oxygen species. The largest increase of ROS concentration vs. the control sample was observed after exposure to EMF of 220 V/m intensity for 60 min (from x = 54.64 to x = 72.92). The measurement of MDA concentration demonstrated a statistically significant increase after 30-min exposure to an EMF of 220 V/m intensity in relation to the initial values (from x = 3.18 to x = 4.41). The enzymatic activity of SOD-1 decreased after exposure (the most prominent change was observed after 60-min and 220 V/m intensity from x = 3556.41 to x = 1084.83). The most significant change in activity of catalase was observed after 60 min and 220 v/m exposure (from x = 6.28 to x = 4.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that exposure to electromagnetic radiation of 1 kHz frequency and 150 V/m and 220 V/m intensity may cause adverse effects within blood platelets' oxygen metabolism and thus may lead to physiological dysfunction of the organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Gabriela A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Henrykowska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrical Engineering System, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pacholski
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Medical Statistics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Śmigielski
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Toxicology and Radiological Protection, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dziedziczak-Buczyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buczyński
keywords: LCD monitors; catalase; malondialdehyde; reactive oxygen species; superoxide dismutase