UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCES

FACULTY OF BIOLOGY

Dept. of Cell Biology and Biophysics

Electromagnetic Biology Research Group

THE GOALS OF OUR RESEARCH TEAM ARE:

“HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF EMFs AS
DEDUCED BY BASIC BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON MODEL SYSTEMS"

Head: Dr. Lukas H. Margaritis, Professor Emeritus (as of 01-09-10) of Cell Biology and Radiobiology

Current Collaborators (2011-2012) :The mice project: Adamantia F. Fragopoulou (finishing PhD Candidate), Maria P. Ntzouni (3rd year PhD Candidate),  Undergraduate diploma Thesis students: D. Mina, A. Bougioukou. The Drosophila project: Elia Chavdoula (finishing PhD Candidate), Areti Manta (1st year PhD Candidate). Undergraduate diploma Thesis students: I. Ninou, E-D. Papanagnou

Past collaborators

 

NEW: OUR RECENT PUBLICATION

Fragopoulou A.F., Samara A., Antonelou M.H., Xanthopoulou A., Papadopoulou A., Vougas K., Koutsogiannopoulou E., Anastasiadou E., Stravopodis D.J, Tsangaris G.Th. & L.H. Margaritis

 (2012). Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. Early Online: 1–25, pdf fil of Abstract  PUBMED

 

University of Athens

PRESS RELEASE

Athens, Greece. January 21, 2012. The research group of Professor Lukas Margaritis (Faculty of Biology, University of Athens and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens), within the framework of the activities seeking for the truth underlining the possible effects of daily life electromagnetic fields, has performed this study as part of the Doctorate Dissertation of Adamantia F. Fragopoulou.

Using ordinary working conditions of mobile phone and wireless DECT base and by applying state of the art proteome science approaches, they demonstrated that a large number of major brain proteins have been changed. Namely proteins that are responsible for the integrity of brain functions, in such critical regions like hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal lobe are below normal levels whereas an equally large number are found well above physiological levels. These “underexpressed” or “overexpressed” proteins may play a role in the short term or long term effects reported as a consequence of mobile phone exposure, including memory deficits, headaches, sleep disorders, brain tumors.

The Fragopoulou et al study is the first large-scale analysis of the mouse brain proteome to be published so far. The research team having recently been awarded a large “Thalis” grant is potentially aiming in elucidating the EMF effects from the molecular level up to the organism level, exploiting the most suitable model systems (mice, insects, nematodes, lizards, cell cultures, human skin).

 

Published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Early Online: 1–25, 2012 Copyright Q Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

On going research is focused on the effects of various kinds and sources of electromagnetic radiation (mobile phones, blue tooth, wireless DECT, baby monitor, microwave oven, wi-fi, magnetic field, e.t.c.) on the reproduction and oogonesis of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Our recent activities are also focused on the irradiation of the model Rodent Mus musculus mouse in order to reveal defects on memory, behavior, reproduction, apoptosis and other lesions induced by non ionizing radiation. This recent work involves multidisciplinary approaches engaging the most sophisticated techniques, such as the Morris water Maze behavioral task, object recognition task, proteomics analysis, immunocytochemistry, confocal laser microscopy and electron microscopy.

Our results have been published in peer review journals (see list below) and have been also presented in the Hellenic Society for Biological sciences annual meetings and also during a special Conference  held in Thessaloniki on May 24, 25, 2008.

      Special attention has been given to the biological effects of mobile phone radiation (for the first time worldwide using real communication conditions) on model cell systems including oogenesis in Diptera, behavior and reproduction in rodents. The results have shown a decrease in the reproductive capacity of Drosophila and deficits in osteogenesis of newborn mice, as well as memory impairment following mobile phone radiation and have been published (see articles). Ongoing research is focused on the effects of cellular and molecular parameters caused by mobile phone radiation under a variety of normal operating conditions. For this purpose a large number of commercially available cellular phones and cordless telephones have been tested.

 

To date there is strong evidence that mobile phone use for more than 10 years increases the risk for brain tumors (see recent interview in CNBC U.S.A.

 http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1366621223 )

Another issue that concerns us is the radiation emitted by cell phone masts. For this purpose we are performing filed measurements inside houses and schools in order to protect the citizens from excessive radiation levels even if those are within the Greek "safety levels". We strongly believe that a further reduction (below the 30% that the current law states) should be decided by the government and on that direction we provide interviews in the media and well documented advice whenever needed.

INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEWS

IARC PRESS RELEASE MOBILE PHONES AND CANCER

PRESS RELEASE CNN 22 MAY 2011, MOBILE PHONES AND BRAIN TUMORS

 Lecture 17 -11-2009 International EMF Conference 2009 Stavanger Norway    " Effects of EMF on Memory Function"

ICEMS MONOGRAPH, VOLUME 1, VOLUME 2

RECENT INTERVIEW A.F. FRAGOPOULOU

 

USEFUL HINTS TO AVOID POSSIBLE EMF HEALTH HAZARDS

TV AND RADIO INTERVIEWS GIVEN BY PROFESSOR LUKAS H. MARGARITIS AND COLLABORATORS

More Interviews

MORE TV AND RADIO DISCUSSIONS OF OUR RESULTS

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Last modified: December 1st, 2012