The effect of 2.4 GHz electromagnetic radiation on the growth and viability of <i>Escherichia coli</i> .

Abstract The impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on living organisms is an important and current topic of scientific research, especially in the context of the growing use of wireless technologies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation with a frequency of 2.4 GHz on the growth and viability of a selected model organism – Escherichia coli . The study was aimed at analyzing how exposure to this frequency affects the growth and viability of bacteria. The samples were exposed to RF-EMF for 2, 4, and 24 hours, then stained and analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed a statistically significant inhibition of bacterial growth during the first 2 hours of exposure compared to the control sample. However, no significant differences were observed at the 4- and 24-hour time points. This effect is likely due to the selection of resistant bacterial subpopulations, reflecting the rapid life cycle and high adaptability of Escherichia coli to environmental stress. These findings suggest that short-term exposure to 2.4 GHz RF-EMF can temporarily suppress bacterial growth but also demonstrate the role of adaptive responses during long-term exposure.