The increasing level of electromagnetic radiation is a dangerous factor that poses risks of damage to living organisms. Currently, research focuses on the influence of industrial sources of electromagnetic radiation; however, thesources of such radiation in the living environment are given insufficient attention. The combined effects of these sources of radiation on living organisms can be investigated using phytoindication. The purpose of the current study was to analyze the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the growth of cereals. Assessment of the trends of change in the length of shoots of test objects at the average absolute growth, the average rate of change and the average growth rate showed inhibition of plant growth indicators, but the most depressing effect was caused by radiation from a computer systems unit and a TV (shorter shoots compared to the control samples ranged between 13.3% in Hordeum vulgare L. to 46.2% in Sorghum vulgare Pers.). The study defined the sensitivity of test objects to electromagnetic radiation of appliances (in descendingorder): Sorghum vulgare Pers. – Triticum aestivum L. – Hordeum vulgare L. (maximum inhibition of growth performance compared to control samples stood at 46.2%, 27.9%, 15.3% respectively).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/aainz.2017.012