Assessing the biochemical and genotoxic effects of low intensity 2.45GHz microwave exposure on Arabidopsis thaliana plants

The electromagnetic waves of 2.45 GHz microwave frequency have become abundant in environments worldwide. This study assessed the short-term impact of low-intensity 2.45 GHz exposure on young Arabidopsis thaliana plants. The plants underwent a 48-hour exposure to continuous wave 2.45 GHz microwaves at a power density of 1.0 +/- 0.1 W m-2. Experiments were conducted inside anechoic chambers. After the microwave exposure samples were subjected to morphological, genotoxicity, pigmentation, and physiochemical analysis. Microwave exposure elevated the levels of photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress, guaiacol peroxidase activity, and ascorbic peroxidase activity in plants. Conversely, catalase activity decreased. Photosystem efficiency remained unchanged, while non-photochemical quenching increased. Leaf morphological parameters exhibited no significant alterations during this brief exposure period. Notably, despite shifts in physiological parameters and pigmentations, genomic template stability remained unaffected. The findings suggest that the non-thermal effects of microwave exposure influence the photosystem and plant physiology. Research confirmed the existence of non-thermal effects of microwave exposure; however, these effects are within tolerable limits for Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Microwaves are a category of radio waves with wavelengths ranging from approximately 30 centimeters to one millimeter. The most utilized microwave frequency these days is 2.45GHz, which is used in everyday devices such as microwaves and WiFi signals. This investigation explored the impact of low-intensity 2.45GHz microwaves on young thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants for 48hours. In other words, research is comparable to scientific assessing how plants respond to the proximity of a 2G WiFi signal. The exposure resulted in increased pigment production in plants and displayed indications of stress, influencing specific plant activities. However, these alterations did not compromise the stability of the genetic materials of the plants. This suggests that although low-intensity microwaves can affect plant systems, the effects appear to be manageable during brief exposures.