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Title: Review of the Effects of Wi-Fi Radiation Exposure to the Germination and Plant
Growth of Various Plant Species

This paper reviews the journal article with the title “Effects of Wi-Fi Radiation on
Germination and Growth of Broccoli, Pea, Red Clover and Garden Cress Seedlings: A Partial
Replication Study” written by authors Magda Havas and M. Sheena Symington for
Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent School of the Environment, Trent University located
at Peterborough, Ontario Canada. The journal article was published March 16, 2016 under the
Journal “Current Chemical Biology Issue no.10.

With the rapid advancement of the technology throughout the world in the past decade,
levels of radiation in the environment in the form of microwaves from rapidly evolving wireless
technology continue to grow as Telecommunication providers strive to supply the increasing
demand of their customers with 100% coverage and as more wireless devices are developed for
home, work, and school environment purposes.

With regards to the increasing demand in wireless devices, concern about cell phones and
Wi-Fi in schools prompted a group of high school students to conduct a simple experiment to
find out if these stray Wi-Fi radiation which is literally found everywhere will have a significant
effect on the seed germination and plant growth of garden cress plant. The students sowed
garden cress seeds on a moistened paper towel and placed it on 6 petri dishes, three of which is
placed near 2 Wi-Fi routers and the rest placed elsewhere in the room farthest from the Wi-Fi
source. Twelve days of observation and the setup farthest from the Wi-Fi router grew normally
while the other setup either failed to germinate or did not thrive as they turn brown.

The research of a group of high school students reached the media and received a lot of
critiques. Questions such as “can this experiment be replicated? Is this a real result that can be
attributed to the radiation generated by Wi-Fi routers were raised and motivated the authors of
the journal to replicate and modify to answer these questions.
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Among the many research on the biological effects of exposure to various radiofrequency
radiation, relatively few have examined the effect on plants. Yet if this radiation adversely
affects plants it could have considerable ecological significance since radio frequency
electromagnetic radiation from cell phone base stations almost covers the environment, and
plants–unlike animals–are unable to move away from the radiation source.

The journal article discussed the cumulative effects of Wi-Fi radiation exposure to the
germination and plant growth of counter-top vegetables, namely garden cress (Lepidium
sativum), broccoli (Brassica oleracea), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and pea (Pisum sativum).
Since the methods of this research is a slight modification to that of the high school science fair
project at Denmark, the author-researchers used seeds of each plant mentioned above and placed
each on a petri dish kept under favorable controlled conditions inside a germination chamber, to
which two setups were made. Each setup was exposed to radiation, one of which is exposed to
Wi-Fi radiation from Wi-Fi router, the other was exposed to lower microwave exposure. The
journal discussed that exposure to Wi-Fi radiation from Wi-Fi routers reduces root and shoot
growth, contributes to yellowing of the leaves, alters size of leaves, and reduces fine root hairs in
several of the species tested. Radiation generated by a Wi-Fi router, at levels lower than that of
the international guidelines for microwaves radiation, adversely affects plant growth and may
have a drastic effect on the plant’s immunity towards opportunistic microorganisms such as
molds.
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Title: Review on the Experiment of the Effect of Wi-Fi Radiation on Seed Germination
and Plant Growth

This paper reviews the journal article with the title “Effect of Wi-Fi Radiation on Seed
Germination and Plant Growth – Experiment” written by authors Pavol Liptai, Bystrík Dolník,
and Veronika Gumanová for the Technical University of Kosice - located at 5, Revolutiei,
331128, Hunedoara, Romania. The journal article was published February 15 2017 under the
Journal “Annals of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara - International Journal of Engineering”.

The authors’ motivation and purpose in writing this paper is the need of further
understanding the effects of rapidly increasing number of artificial sources of electromagnetic
fields to living organisms. Plants were used as the object of the study because it is said that it can
perceive a lot of perceptions from the environment. Whilst, this research still concern humans
who are primarily exposed to electromagnetic radiation in the environment, at home and at
workplaces. The experiment were limited to the observation of the plants’ weight, color and
visual appearance in a short period of time.

Electromagnetic radiation is an important environmental factor which is constantly used

in our daily lives. Electromagnetic radiation not only has a potential long-term effect to public
health but may also have an impact to the ecological environment. Possible sources of thermal
effects from electromagnetic radiation which surrounds people every day includes the
electromagnetic waves of mobile phones, Wi-Fi equipment and even microwave ovens. There
are some analysis of thermal and biological effects of electromagnetic radiation that is constant
to a lot of attention and research activities. There is also a research of harmfulness of
electromagnetic heating food in microwave ovens that was determined on the Institute of
biochemistry and environment in Switzerland. The capability of the plants to react to
environment changes is significant for the reason that they cannot change location frequently.
Throughout the evolution in their organisms, it has been the effective mechanisms developed to
assure their survival. It was caused by the fact that plants are not able to move.
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The journal specifically focused on observing the effects of Wi-Fi radiation on the
growth plants garden cress. Two samples were made in the experiment. Sample A was exposed
to a minimum radiation, while Sample B was exposed to long-term electromagnetic radiation in
the vicinity of Wi-Fi router using a Huawei B260 in 2.412 to 2.472 GHz transmission frequency.
All other experimental conditions were the same including a secured same conditions of
daylight.

The experiment on the two samples were done in 12 days where in the weight of the
samples were recorded in grams for the gathering of its data. On the first day, both samples
weigh 115 grams. Development of samples on the third, fifth, tenth and twelfth day was also
recorded. The final day of the experiment garnered different weights for the samples. Sample A
has a record of 105 grams and is visually vital on its clearly green color, while sample B with a
record of 152 grams is in a withered condition and its vegetation was less dense than the first
sample. It therefore shows that long-term exposure of Wi-Fi radiation in the vicinity of the cress
causes changes in growth and development as well as visible changes of discoloration and
vitality.

The authors’ came down with a conclusion that discusses the effect of Wi-Fi radiation to
plants that is influenced by factors like thermal effects of electromagnetic field are directly
dependent on the frequency of waves, which means that with increasing frequency grows thermal
effect on living organisms; total amount of received thermal energy depend on the water content
contained in the vegetable fibers. Water content determines the electrical properties; surface area
of vegetable fibers that is exposed to microwave radiation and electric field strength. The
experiment led them to an answer that the effect is the slowing of plants growth, physiological and
metabolic changes and genetic mutations that can lead to death of the plants. With this experiment
findings, the researchers still recommends to repeat the experiment for the confirmation of the
data. It is also best to continue the research to get more accurate and long term results concerning
the changes to the plant’s growth caused by high-frequency electromagnetic fields.