Effects of GSM 900 MHz Mobile Phone Radiation on the Reproductive Capacity of Drosophila melanogaster

Panagopoulos DJ, Karabarbounis A, Margaritis LH.

Electromag. Biol. Med. 23:29-43, 2004

Pulsed radio frequency, (RF), electromagnetic radiation from common GSM mobile phones, (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications) with a carrier frequency at 900 MHz, ³modulated² by human voice, (speaking emission) decreases the reproductive capacity of the insect Drosophila melanogaster by 50%­60%, whereas the corresponding ³nonmodulated² field (nonspeaking emission) decreases the reproductive capacity by 15%­20%.

The insects were exposed to the near field of the mobile phone antenna for 6 min per day during the first 2­5 days of their adult lives. The GSM field is found to affect both females and males. Our results suggest that this field-radiation decreases the rate of cellular processes during gonad development in insects.