Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from wireless technology and mobile phones, operates at various frequencies. The present study analyses the major impact of short-term exposure to 2.4GHz frequency EMR, using the two model systems chick embryos and SH-SY5Y cell lines. We hypothesized that exposure to this frequency would induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in neurons. Chick embryos were exposed continuously to 2.4GHz EMR for 4h each day over a 5-day period, and comparisons were made with a control group. At the end of the exposure, brain tissues were dissected for histopathological analysis, antioxidant assays, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection. Additionally, SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to 2.4GHz EMR to assess cell viability, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Our results showed that exposure to 2.4GHz EMR induces oxidative stress in both chick embryos and the SH-SY5Y cells, though no significant tissue-level impact was observed. In SH-SY5Y cells, ROS production increased after 4h of exposure, accompanied by moderate DNA damage and early markers of apoptosis, such as upregulation of the Bax gene. Furthermore, we observed that antioxidants, such as NAC and Mito-TEMPO, helped mitigate the cytotoxic effects of EMR in both the study models. In conclusion, short-term exposure (4h) to 2.4GHz EMR induced moderate cellular and molecular changes, primarily oxidative stress. The oxidative stress was reduced by antioxidants, which suggests potential benefits in preventing EMR-induced cytotoxicity. Extended exposure to EMR beyond 4h may pose adverse health risks to humans, endorsing further investigation.
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