In this repost the design of an exposure system for culture studies is presented. The apparatus can expose culture plates to a magnetic field and microwave radiation. The magnetic field is created using a pair of Helmholtz colis which can generate a field with frequencies between 0 and 100 [Hz] and with field strengths between 0 and 8 [Gauss]. Microwaves with frequencies between 1.7 and 1.9 [GHz] at power levels between 0 and 8 [W] are directed at the culture plate using a R-band rectangular waveguide. The setup includes an IR- camera used to observe the temperature distribution of the exposed medium.Trial exposures of Osteoblasts does not show any statistically viable results.

Recent reports suggest that mobile phone radiation may diminish male fertility. However, the effects of this radiation on human spermatozoa are largely unknown. The present study examined effects of the radiation on induction of apoptosisrelated properties in human spermatozoa. Ejaculated, densitypurified, highly motile human spermatozoa were exposed to mobile phone radiation at specific absorption rates (SARs) of 2.0 and 5.7 W/kg. At various times after exposure, flow cytometry was used to examine caspase 3 activity, externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), induction of DNA strand breaks, and generation of reactive oxygen species. Mobile phone radiation had no statistically significant effect on any of the parameters studied. This suggests that the impairment of fertility reported in some studies was not caused by the induction of apoptosis in spermatozoa.

The toxicology of aerosols in occupational settings is often performed through particle collection on a filter followed by reconstitution into cell culture media which can alter the biological effects. Current in vitro exposure systems require additional instruments to control temperature and humidity, making the system bulky and difficult to take to the field. The Portable In Vitro Exposure Cassette (PIVEC) was designed for personal monitoring, characterized using copper nanoparticles, tested with alveolar cells, and set-up for real-time monitoring. Three differently sized copper nanoparticles, 40-800 nm, were dispersed as a dry aerosol and measured gravimetrically and on a number concentration basis to determine the deposition efficiency of the PIVEC. A549 cells, a human alveolar adenocarcinoma epithelial line, were exposed to the aerosols and oxidative stress and cell viability were monitored post-exposure. The deposition efficiency ranged from 0.5% to 18% depending on method of analysis and size of particle. Oxidative stress increased within the first two hours post exposure, however there was no significant difference in cell viability at the four hour time point at deposited doses up to 1.63 mg/cm2. Validation of the PIVEC was done in the laboratory using diesel exhaust. Metal oxide fuel additives are used to reduce emissions; however, additives have been shown to increase emitted nanoparticles. The PIVEC was used to determine the potential cytotoxicity and oxidative activity changes in A549 cells after exposure to either model particles or exhaust generated with or without a commercial, nano-cerium oxide based additive. Acellular experiments suggest a correlation between the deposition and the type of fuel used for the newly designed PIVEC. Cellular results suggest a decrease in cytotoxicity and no statistically significant effect on reactive oxygen species generation with the use of the nano-cerium oxide additive. Rapid monitoring of oxidative stress was performed using an enzyme-based biosensor. The functionalized biosensor uses cytochrome c to measure reactive oxygen species through electrochemical detection during aerosol exposures. When compared to a traditional biological assay, the biosensor response was similar. The PIVEC is a unique device, designed to monitor aerosols using air-liquid interface in vitro techniques including a real-time monitor for oxidative stress.

The purpose of this study was to characterize and evaluate the performance of a whole-body human exposure chamber for controlled test atmospheres of gases and particulates. The chamber was constructed from Plexiglass, has a volume of 75 ft 3, operated at a flowrate of 33.8 CFM, and both the makeup and exhaust air are HEPA filtered. Fly ash dust was generated using a Wright Dust Feeder. An elutriator was used to eliminate particles larger 8 μm aerodynamic diameter from the airstream. A direct reading instrument, the Rupprecht and Patashnick PM-10 TEOM, was used for determination of particle concentration. Particle size distributions were determined by a QCM cascade impactor. Data from gravimetric analysis were used to test for the evenness of dust concentrations in the chamber. CO2 is used as a representative gas and its concentration was measured using the Metrosonics aq-5000. Total dust concentrations as measured by the TEOM, in μg/m 3, at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1.6 RPMs of the Wright Dust Feeder, were 110 + 2.8, 173 + 8.5, 398 + 20 and 550 + 17, respectively. For these RPMs, particle size distributions were associated with a MMD of 1.27 μm and a GSD of 2.35, a MMD of 1.39 and a GSD of 2.22, a MMD of 1.46 and a GSD of 2.08, a MMD of 1.15 and a GSD of 2.2, respectively. Total dust concentrations as measured by gravimetric analysis, in μg/m3 for the respirable fraction. Dust concentrations measured at different points within the chamber showed uniform distribution with a variability less than 10%. Similarly, the particle size distributions were found to be consistent across the different RPMs settings. Regarding carbon dioxide, its concentration was straightforward and the measured and theoretical maximum concentration levels were in agreement. The performance of this whole-body human exposure chamber has been characterized and evaluated for low levels of particles and gases and now it is a valuable research tool for inhalation challenge studies.

Dans cette thèse, nous proposons et étudions des systèmes d’exposition en vue d’explorer les effets biologiques sanitaire et thérapeutique des ondes électromagnétiques sur le vivant. Nous proposons une antenne micro-onde pour l’ablation thermique des tumeurs cancéreuses du foie à 2.45 GHz. Son originalité réside en ses dimensions miniatures et la possibilité de l’insérer dans le foie par voie endoscopique. Pour cette antenne, un débit d’absorption spécifique (DAS) supérieur à 50 W/kg/W inc a montré une zone exposée de 1-cm de diamètre. Nous proposons ensuite une cellule transverse électromagnétique (TEM) avec une ouverture fermée par un matériau transparent conducteur l’Indium tin oxyde (ITO). Cette cellule TEM peut être utilisée pour évaluer les effets sanitaires potentiels des signaux de télécommunications sans fils. Ce système permet l’observation microscopique en temps réel du milieu biologique exposé, à travers son ouverture fermée par l’ITO. L’influence de la présence de l’ouverture et de la couche d’ITO sur le DAS dans le milieu exposé a été évaluée. Les valeurs du DAS obtenues à 1.8 GHz dans le milieu exposé dans la cellule TEM avec l'ouverture fermée ou non par l’ITO étaient de 1.1 W/kg/W inc et 23.6 W/kg/W inc, respectivement. Une excellence homogénéité du DAS a été obtenue dans le milieu en présence de l’ITO. Enfin, nous proposons plusieurs dispositifs spécifiques pour l’exposition des cellules biologiques aux champs électriques pulsés nanosecondes de haute intensité (nsPEFs). Les effets biologiques des nsPEFs sont utilisés pour des applications dans le domaine médical et en biotechnologie. Nous proposons deux dispositifs à électrodes en contact direct avec le milieu biologique et trois dispositifs à électrodes isolées. Nous démontrons l’adaptation de ces dispositifs aux impulsions courtes de durée 3-ns et la capacité de ceux à électrodes en contact à fournir des champs intenses de l’ordre de quelques MV/m. Nous illustrons aussi l’importance des dispositifs isolés pour délivrer des impulsions ultracourtes. / In this thesis, we propose and study exposure systems to explore healthy and therapeutic biological effects of EM signals. We propose a microwave antenna for thermal ablation of liver tumors at 2.45 GHz. Its original feature consists in its reduced dimensions that permits the endoscopic insertion in the zone to be treated. For this antenna, a specific absorption rate (SAR) greater than 50 W/kg/W inc showed an exposed zone of 1-cm diameter. We propose a transverse electromagnetic cell (TEM) with an aperture sealed with a transparent conducting material Indium tin oxide (ITO).This TEM cell can be used to study the potential effects of wireless communication systems on biological cells. This delivery device allows real-time observation of biological cells during exposure across the aperture sealed with ITO. The effect of the aperture and the ITO layer presence on the SAR in the exposed sample was evaluated. The SAR values obtained at 1.8 GHz in the sample exposed in the TEM cell with the sealed or non-sealed aperture of 20-mm diameter were 1.1 W/kg/W inc and 23.6 W/kg/W inc, respectively. An excellent homogeneity of SAR was achieved in the medium in the presenceof ITO. Finally, we propose several devices for the exposure of biological medium to nanosecond pulsed electric field with high intensity (nsPEFs). The biological effect of nsPEFs are used in biotechnology and medicine. We propose two devices with electrodes in direct contact with the biological medium and three devices with isolated electrodes. We demonstrate their adaptation for 3-ns duration pulses and the suitability of those with electrodes in contactwith the biological medium to provide high intensities fields in the order of several MV/m. We demonstrate the importance of the isolated devices for delivering ultrashort pulses.