The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Yeast Jamison Beiriger Grade 11 Central Catholic High School

Problem Electromagnetic Radiation constantly emitted by millions of cell phones and WIFI transmitters worldwide can have adverse effects on human cells.

Electromagnetic Radiation According to Cindy Sage, the "most rapidly growing environmental pollutant in today's environment is probably electromagnetic fields (EMF) including radiofrequency radiation." Some adverse effects include: sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, migraines, and general poor health. Almost everybody today carries a cellular device emitting these frequencies constantly.

Frequencies Tested WIFI 5 GHz Strong signal meant for longer distances. Cell Phone 3G 1900 MHz Constantly emitted by cell phones. Radio Waves 3 GHz Long range signals transmitted by huge towers.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yeast) Easy to grow and culture Unicellular Most studied cell in the world Aerobic and anaerobic cell respiration Similar cell cycle, biochemistry and genetics to other eukaryotic cells, like those in humans

Purpose:  To determine if electromagnetic radiation has a significant effect on the survivorship of yeast.

Null Hypothesis Electromagnetic radiation will not significantly affect the survivorship of yeast. Alternate Hypothesis Electromagnetic radiation will significantly affect the survivorship of yeast.

Materials:  Bunsen Burners  Spread Bar  Incubator  Ethanol  Matches  Vortex  Klett Spectrophotometer  Yeast  Latex Gloves  Micropipettes  Micro tubes  3 Metal containers  Action Tec MI424-WRRevE WIFI Router  2 EMR Transmitters  Sterile Dilution Fluid (SDF) (per 1 liter) (100mM KH 2 PO 4, 100mM K 2 HPO 4, 10mM MgSO 4, 1mM NaCl) YEPD media and agar plates (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% glucose (dextrose), 1.5% agar)

Procedure 1.Saccharomyces cerevisiae was grown overnight in sterile YEPD media. 2.Samples of the overnight culture were added to fresh media in a sterile sidearm flask. 3.The culture was placed in an incubator at 30°C until a density of 50 Klett spectrophotometer units was reached. This represents a cell density of approximately 10 7 cells/mL. 4.The culture was diluted in sterile dilution fluid to a concentration of approximately 10 5 cells/mL mL of this yeast culture was added to 9.9 mL of SDF, resulting in a concentration of approximately10 3 cells/mL.

Procedure Continued 7.This solution was then vortexed and allowed to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. 8.While this was occurring, transmitters were placed in metal containers at the frequencies being tested. 9.After vortexing to evenly suspend the cells, 100 µL aliquots were removed from the tubes and spread on YEPD agar plates. 10.Immediately after plating, 16 plates were placed in each of the three containers in a room at 30 °C.

Procedure (Continued) 11.After 24 hours, 8 plates from each box were removed and added to the area with the control. 12.When 2 days had passed, all of the plates were removed, including those with the control. 13.The resulting colonies were counted visually. Each colony was assumed to have arisen from one cell.

Plate Allocation Day 1 16 Plates Frequency: 5 GHz Day 1 16 Plates Frequency: 3 GHz Day 2 8 Plates Frequency: 5 GHz Day 2 8 Plates Frequency: 1900 MHz Day 1 16 Plates Frequency: 1900 MHz Day 2 8 Plates Frequency: 3 GHz Box 1 – WIFIBox 3 – 3GBox 2 – Radio

P Value = P Value = P Value = P Value = P Value = Two Factor P Value =

ANOVA Abbreviation for analysis of variance Statistical test comparing variation within and between experimental groups If the P- value is lower than the alpha value (.05), then the result is significant (a result of the variable influence) Sample ANOVA (not used in experiment) Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY GroupsCountSumAverageVariance 0% no UV % UV ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF crit Between Groups E Within Groups Total

Key Questions: 1. Did Radio over time have a significant effect on Yeast survivorship? P Value = , YES 2. Did 3G over time have a significant effect on Yeast? P Value = ,YES 3.Did WIFI over time have a significant effect on Yeast? P Value = , YES 4.Was there significant variation between the groups at 1 day of exposure? P Value = , YES 5.Was there significant variation between the groups at 2 days of exposure? P Value = , YES Alpha =.05

T Critical= 3.49 (Significant) Variable Concentration T Value Interpretation Radio Insignificant 3G Insignificant WIFI Significant Dunnett’s Test Analysis: 1 Day

T Critical= 3.49 (Significant) Variable Concentration T Value Interpretation Radio Significant 3G Insignificant WIFI Significant Dunnett’s Test Analysis: 2 Days

CONCLUSIONS  The null hypothesis can be rejected at two days exposure for both Radio and WIFI frequencies. It can also be rejected at the one day exposure for WIFI. This is the only variable that was significant with only one day exposure.

LIMITATIONS  Only three frequencies were tested (out of 1000s)  Only one microorganisms were tested  Slight variations in plating and/or exposure time  Only one type of exposure  Only tested two time periods  Only used one transmitter per container  Slight electromagnetic radiation from outside  Only 8 replicates for each

Future Studies Test these effects over long term periods Test the progression of these effects (linear or logistic) Test different cells, maybe human cells Test remediation methods from this damage Test natural filters against this damage

References oscopy/Fundamentals/Electromagnetic_Radiation oscopy/Fundamentals/Electromagnetic_Radiation from-wireless-routers.aspx from-wireless-routers.aspx 9/21/cell-phone-wifi-radiation.aspx 9/21/cell-phone-wifi-radiation.aspx shocking-facts-health-dangers-wifi/ shocking-facts-health-dangers-wifi/