Abstract

Overview

The study investigates the influence of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on lettuce, highlighting the potential health risks these fields pose not only to human and animal life but also to plants.

Findings

• Exposure to RF-EMF resulted in varied effects on lettuce depending on the environment (indoor vs. outdoor).
• Significant findings include a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and accelerated flowering in outdoor environments.
• Indoor exposure showed minor impacts on aspects such as chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics.
• Analysis indicated a down-regulation of stress-related genes, suggesting interference in plant stress responses.
• Results underscore the reduced stress tolerance in plants exposed to RF-EMF under light stress conditions.

Conclusion

The research emphasizes the urgent need to explore further the effects of RF-EMF on plants in realistic settings due to the observed significant impacts, suggesting potential detriment to plant health and ecosystem stability under the increased use of wireless technologies.