In vitro study of effect of radiation emitted by mobile phone on osmotic fragility and other blood parameters

Mobile phones are considered one of the most important inventions of 21^st century. With growing number of cellular telephone users and ground stations, the effect of electro-magnetic fields (EMF) emitted by them on human beings is an interesting issue. Researchers have shown that microwave radiation from mobile phone causes harmful effects on blood cells in human body. There is increase in red blood cells (RBCs) count, decrease in white blood cell (WBCs) count and lymphocytes count after prolonged exposure to microwave radiation. The effect of RF-EMF (Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields) by mobile phone was studied on following blood parameters in vitro:Red blood cell (RBC) count,White blood cell (WBC) count, Platelet count and Osmotic fragility. Two venous blood samples were collected from healthy, young volunteers more than 18 years. One sample was exposed to the radiation from mobile phone (Dual band EGSM 900/1800 MHZ) kept at a distance of one cm from the sample for one hour in talk mode inside the wooden box. Another sample was used as a control. The control sample was kept under identical condition but without RF-EMW exposure. Immediately after exposure to cell phone radiation, both specimen (control and exposed) were analyzed for osmotic fragility, RBCs count, WBCs count and platelet count. Significant difference was seen in RBC count and WBC count between exposed and unexposed sample with p < 0.001. Wilcoxon sign rank test gave p < 0.05 for the platelet counts which was also significant. There was no significant difference in osmotic fragility p=0.083.The radio frequency electromagnetic field created by mobile phones and many electronic devices affects red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelet count. Osmotic fragility is not affected by RF-EMF emitted by mobile phone in vitro.