The current study was conducted as a preliminary study in the Samarra city of Iraq. The study explored direct and indirect impact on people exposed to Internet network towers on residential premises in the cities of Iraq. The study included collection of samples from people exposed to radioactive frequencies of Internet towers for a period ranging from 1 to 10 years. In all, 43 blood samples of males and female participants (age: 20-35 years) were collected exposed to radioactive frequencies (present at the places where constellations were located); also, 20 samples were collected from those (20-35-year old) not exposed to radioactive frequencies (from places far from the Internet towers), which acted as a control group. Measurements and analyses were made for antioxidants that included the following enzymes: glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and peroxynitrate (or peroxonitrite [ONOO-]). Antioxidants are one of the most essential lines of defense against free radicals that cause diseases and premature aging. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of GPx and SOD concentrations and a decrease in the levels of GSH concentration in the blood serum of participants exposed to electromagnetic waves of Internet towers compared to the control group. The results also showed a significant increase in the concentrations of both MDA and ONOO- compared to the non-exposed subjects of the control group.
Keywords: Internet towers; Samarra; antioxidants; electromagnetic waves.