THE INFLUENCE OF USING MOBILE PHONE ON PAROTID GLAND SALIVARY FLOW RATE AND LIPID PEROXIDATION LEVELS

Dr. Jatin Gupta and *Dr. Kanupriya Gupta

ABSTRACT

Increasing use of mobile phones creates growing concerns regarding harmful effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on human tissues located close to the ear, where phones are commonly held for long periods of time. The study was conducted on 200 healthy male and female individuals aged 18-30 years with a history of handheld mobile phone use ≥ 3 years. Group I (50 male, 50 female participants) was the heavy-user group, who used handheld mobile phone ≥ 2 hours daily on average. Group II, the control group, (50 male, 50 female participants) participants used mobile phone < 2 hours daily. Unstimulated parotid saliva flow rate from parotid glands on both sides was measured by Modified Schirmer test. Lipid peroxidation levels were biochemically analysed using calorimetric methods. Group I showed more significant rate of parotid salivation on the dominant side compared with the non-dominant side in contrast to Group II, whereas no significance was observed in antioxidant levels. These observations lead to the hypothesis that the use of mobile phones may modify salivary gland function.

Keywords: Mobile Phones, Parotid gland, Modified Schirmer test, lipid peroxidation levels.