Cell mortality in magnetite-producing bacteria exposed to GSM radiation

Ferromagnetic transduction models based on the presence of biogenic magnetite (Fe3O4) in the human brain have been proposed as a potential mechanism for mobile phone bioeffects. These models include ferromagnetic resonance effects in biogenic magnetite at mobile telecommunication frequencies [1] and magnetite-mediated mechanical activation of transmembrane ion channels [2]. We have tested these models experimentally for the first time using a bacterial analogue (M. magnetotacticum) which produces intracellular biogenic magnetite similar to that present in the human brain. Experimental evaluation revealed that exposure to mobile phone emissions resulted in a consistent and significantly higher proportion of cell death in exposed cultures vs. sham exposure (p=0.037). Separate examination of the RF (1.8 GHz) component using a controlled exposure system (REFLEX) did not reveal a significant effect. Though there appears to be a repeatable trend towards higher cell mortality in magnetite-producing bacteria exposed to mobile phone emissions, it is not yet clear that this would extrapolate to a deleterious health effect in humans