title: Immune responses of a wall lizard to whole-body exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During the last three decades, the number of devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the wireless communication spectrum has rapidly increased and possible effects on living organisms have become a major concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency EMR emitted by a widely used wireless communication device, namely the Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony (DECT) base, on the immune responses of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii).
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male lizards were exposed 24 h/day for 8 weeks to 1880-1900 MHz DECT base radiation at average electric field intensity of 3.2 V/m. Immune reactivity was assessed using the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin swelling and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results revealed a noticeable suppression (approximately 45%) of inflammatory responses in EMR-exposed lizards compared to sham-exposed animals. T cell-mediated responses were marginally affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily radiofrequency EMR exposure seems to affect, at least partially, the immunocompetence of the Aegean wall lizard.
authors: a Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;|b Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Despoina
authors: D
authors: Mina
authors: b Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Kostas
authors: K
authors: Sagonas
authors: a Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Adamantia F
authors: AF
authors: Fragopoulou
authors: c Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Panayiotis
authors: P
authors: Pafilis
authors: d Department of Energy Technology Engineering , Technological Educational Institute of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Aikaterini
authors: A
authors: Skouroliakou
authors: a Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Lukas H
authors: LH
authors: Margaritis
authors: b Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Ourania E
authors: OE
authors: Tsitsilonis
authors: b Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology , University of Athens , Athens , Greece ;
authors: Efstratios D
authors: ED
authors: Valakos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008116:Lizards / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011846:Radio Waves; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Non-ionizing radiation; immunology; inflammation; reptiles; skin