Photo by V. Miller
Oct. 5, 2005
Exposing Fruit Flies to Microwave Radiation
Prolonged Effects of Radio Frequency Radiation Exposure: Are Cell Phones and Radar Guns Safe?
Danna Elisabeth Thomas, 15, Annapolis, Md.
Finalist, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, 2005
Category: Medicine and Health
There are nearly 170 million wireless subscribers in the United States, including many young adults. Since widespread cellular phone use is little more than a decade old, there has been limited opportunity to examine its long-term health effects. There is also a growing concern about the occupational exposure of police officers to microwave radiation from traffic radar devices.
The goal of my experiment was to determine whether exposure to different bands of microwave radio frequency (RF) radiation would cause mutations to occur in Drosophila (fruit flies).
In my experiment, I exposed five generations of Drosophila to 900-MHz, 2.4-GHz, and 24-GHz radiation. These are common microwave frequencies for cell phones, cordless phones, and radar guns today. I also maintained a control vial of Drosophila not exposed to radio frequency radiation.
I observed wing mutations in all five generations of RF-exposed test cultures. Applying a test of statistical significance, I was able to support my hypothesis that RF radiation does increase the likelihood of a mutation.
If a simple fruit fly mutates, could it be possible that RF radiation emitted from cell phones and radar guns is harmful to human users?
According to the 1993 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health feasibility assessment, police officers are at a greater risk than the general population for any number of adverse health outcomes. Police officers can reduce the potential risks of RF radiation by using a radar gun lead covering when a radar gun is turned on.
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