Effects of Radiofrequency EMF from Mobile Phones and Wi-Fi Router on the Growth Rate and Susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis to Antibiotics

Authors: Mortazavi SMJ, Taheri M, Paknahad M, Khandadash S

Year: 2022 Aug 1

Category: Biomedical Physics

Journal: J Biomed Phys Eng

DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.1268

URL: https://jbpe.sums.ac.ir/article_47590.html

Abstract

Overview

Increasing exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), especially from devices like mobile phones and Wi-Fi routers, has raised concerns about its potential impact on health.

Objective and Material

The research aimed to determine how RF-EMF exposure from smart devices affects the growth and antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), a type of bacteria often found in infected root canals.

  • Materials: The study utilizes E. faecalis ATCC 19115, with verification through specific morphological and biochemical tests.
  • Methods: The study used the disk diffusion method for antibiotic susceptibility tests and a calibrated UV-visible spectrophotometer to measure bacterial growth rates at 625 nm.

Findings

Key findings from this study included:

  • RF-EMF exposure distinctly changed the antibiotic sensitivity of E. faecalis.
  • After 6 hours of RF-EMF exposure, the bacteria exhibited reduced susceptibility to antibiotics, whereas prolonged exposure (24 hours) increased susceptibility.
  • Controlled, non-exposed bacteria demonstrated a slower growth rate compared to those subjected to RF-EMF.

Conclusion

The results signify that RF-EMF exposure from commonly used devices like Wi-Fi routers and mobile phones can significantly influence both the antibiotic resistance and growth rates of E. faecalis. These findings provide insight into how electromagnetic fields from everyday devices could potentially affect bacterial behavior and resistance.

EMF radiofrequency antibiotic resistance Enterococcus faecalis mobile phones Wi-Fi routers
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