Abstract

Overview

Recent research has shown that exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields (HF-EMF) affects plant metabolism substantially. Unlike in animals where temperature increase is common, plants exhibit metabolic changes without a corresponding increase in tissue temperature.

Findings

• The study involved an exposure system that measured tissue temperature using reflectometric probes and thermal imaging, detecting no tissue heating.
• Significant findings include rapid changes within 60 minutes in gene expression related to stress (TCH1 and ZAT12 transcription factors) and reactive oxygen species metabolism (RBOHF and APX1).
• Simultaneously, increases were observed in levels of hydrogen peroxide and dehydroascorbic acid, while levels of glutathione, ascorbic acid, and lipid peroxidation remained unchanged.

Conclusion

This study provides clear evidence that non-thermal biological responses to HF-EMF exposure occur rapidly in plants. The importance of further investigations into the subtleties of EMF exposure on plant life cannot be understated given the potential risk of unrecognized effects on ecological health.