Mobile phone radiation harmful for a cockroach's health: Study

A cockroach may survive a nuclear blast, but mobile phone radiation does no good to its health, a study conducted on the insect has found. Photo: AFP

New Delhi: A cockroach may survive a nuclear blast, but mobile phone radiation does no good to its health, a study conducted on the insect has found.

Findings of the study, conducted by the department of zoology, University College, Thiruvananthapuram, were published in the scientific journal Current Science on Monday.

Exposure of Periplaneta americana (adult male cockroaches) to “electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones resulted in sharp changes in the various enzyme systems of body fat and haematological profile,” said the study published on Monday.

Haematology deals with the scientific study of blood.

Mobile phones are now part of our daily lives but in the past few years, concerns have been raised about the effect of radiation from them on human health even as there is no conclusive proof of their harmful effect as yet.

A sharp decline in the protein content of body fat, together with an increase of free amino acids, was observed, the study found. The content of glucose and uric acid of body fat showed a sharp increase as well. Content of acetylcholine, an organic chemical, in the central nervous system also increased sharply, and the organisms were found to be inert and lethargic after the third hour of EMR exposure, the study revealed.

The study concluded that “continuous exposure to electromagnetic radiation of cellphones can result in widespread effects on the brain, neurons, developing cells and enzyme systems” of cockroaches.

The “present study clearly explained the physiological and biochemical basis of adverse effect of electromagnetic radiations and is a warning for the judicious use of mobile phones,” it said.

In 2015, a parliamentary panel expressed concern over mushrooming of mobile phone towers across Indian cities and the effects of electromagnetic radiations they emit. It asked the department of telecommunications to frame suitable regulations and guidelines on the location and inspection of the towers.

The parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment and forests, headed by Congress member of Parliament Ashwani Kumar, also asked the department to take up comprehensive scientific studies to conclusively establish the level of risks and adverse health effects of electromagnetic radiations.