High-Throughput Omics Technologies: Potential Tools for the Investigation of Influences of EMF on Biological Systems

Abstract

The mode of action of a huge amount of agents on biological systems is still unknown. One example where more questions than answers exist is covered by the term electromagnetic fields (EMF). Use of wireless communication, e.g. mobile phones, has been escalated in the last few years. Due to this fact, a lot of discussions dealt with health consequences of EMF emitted by these devices and led to an increased investigation of their effects to biological systems, mainly by using traditional methods. Omics technologies have the advantage to contain methods for investigations on DNA-, RNA- and protein level as well as changes in the metabolism.This literature survey is an overview of the available scientific publications regarding biological and health effects of EMF and the application of new high-throughput technologies. The aim of the study was to analyse the amount and the distribution of these technologies and to evaluate their relevance to the risk analysis of EMF. At present, only transcriptomics is able to analyse almost all of the specific molecules. In comparison to ionising radiation, fewer articles dealt with health effects of EMF. Interestingly, most of the EMF articles came from European institutions.Although omics techniques allow exact and simultaneous examinations of thousands of genes, proteins and metabolites in high-throughput technologies, it will be an absolute prerequisite to use standardised protocols and to independently validate the results for comparability and eventually for sound standing statements concerning possible effects of agents like EMF on biological systems.

Keywords: RF-EMF; ionising radiation.; omics; transcriptomics.

Fig. (1) Different investigation areas and number of publications.

The bars show the number of published scientific articles. The different colors mark applied omics technologies (dark grey – genomics, middle grey – transcriptomics, light grey – proteomics).

Fig. (2) Revised number of publications.

Different shades denote investigated radiation and EMF, respectively (dark grey – ionising radiation, middle grey – EMF).

Fig. (3) Most used producers of chips and arrays.

Different colors mark the producer of the most frequently used arrays and chips: 3A investigation of the effects of ionising radiation and 3B research on influences of EMF. Producers with lower participation are summarized in term “other”.

Fig. (4) Number of publications and the investigated radiations.

4A contains the distribution of the publications belonging to one kind of ionising radiation (dark grey – wave radiation (γ, X and UV), middle grey – particle radiation (α, β, neutrons, HZE), light grey – type of radiation not specified 4B show the distribution to the different kinds of EMF: dark grey – RF-EMF, middle grey – ELF-EMF, light grey – other).

Fig. (5) Number of publications per year.

Graded grey shades mark the number of publications containing ionising radiation and EMF in the respective years. (dark grey – ionising radiation, light grey – EMF).

Fig. (6) Number of publications per continent.

The graphical representation shows the number of publications per continent. To relate the numbers of scientific articles respective to the countries the attribution of the articles to the countries took place by the first author of the publication. The two grey shades mark the considered ionising radiation and EMF, respectively (dark grey – ionising radiation, light grey – EMF).