Effects of electromagnetic fields on molecules and cells

Low-frequency electromagnetic fields influence the expression of calcium metabolism related proteins in leukocytic cell lines

Our study aimed to verify the hypothesis concerning low-frequency magnetic fields (LF-MFs)-related changes in cell viability through the biomechanism(s) based on calcineurin (CaN)-mediated signaling pathways triggered via ROS-like molecules. For experiments, Mono Mac 6 and U937 leukocytic cell lines were chosen and exposed to various LF-MFs and/or puromycin (PMC). The protein expression level of key regulatory proteins of calcium metabolism was examined by Western Blot analysis. In turn, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell viability parameters were evaluated by cytochrome C reduction assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The simultaneous action of applied MF and PMC influenced cell viability in a MF-dependent manner. The changes in cell viability were correlated with protein expression and ROS levels. It was verified experimentally that applied stress stimuli influence cell susceptibility to undergo cell death. Moreover, the evoked bioeffects might be recognized as specific to both types of leukocyte populations.

Quantum Molecular Resonance Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome/Nitrosative Stress and Promotes M1 to M2 Macrophage Polarization: Potential Therapeutic Effect in Osteoarthritis Model In Vitro

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Quantum Molecular Resonance (QMR) technology in an in vitro model of osteoarthritis-related inflammation. The study used THP-1-derived macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and hyaluronic acid fragments to induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and nitrosative stress. QMR treatment inhibited COX-2 and iNOS protein expression and activity and reduced NF-κB activity. Furthermore, QMR treatment led to a significant reduction in peroxynitrite levels, reactive nitrogen species that can form during inflammatory conditions, and restored tyrosine nitration values to those similar to sham-exposed control cells. We also investigated the effect of QMR treatment on inflammasome activation and macrophage polarization in THP-1-derived macrophages. Results showed that QMR treatment significantly decreased NLRP3 and activated caspase-1 protein expression levels and downregulated IL-18 and IL-1β protein expression and secretion. Finally, our findings indicate that QMR treatment induces a switch in macrophage polarization from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype.

En route to next-generation nerve repair: static passive magnetostimulation modulates neurite outgrowth

Objective. Regeneration of damaged nerves is required for recovery following nervous system injury. While neural cell behavior may be modified by neuromodulation techniques, the impact of static direct current (DC) magnetic stimulation remains unclear.Approach. This study quantifies the effects of DC magnetostimulation on primary neuronal outgrowthin vitro. The extension of neurites of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) subjected to two different low-strength (mT) static magnetic flux configurations was investigated.Main results. After 3 d of 1 h in-plane (IP) magnetic field stimulation, a 62.5% increase in neurite outgrowth area was seen relative to unstimulated controls. The combined action of in-plane + out-of-plane (IP + OOP) magnetic field application produced a directional outgrowth bias parallel to the IP field direction. At the same time, the diverse magnetic field conditions produced no changes in two soluble neurotrophic factors, nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, released from resident glia.Significance. These results demonstrate the potential for DC magnetostimulation to enhance neuronal regrowth and improve clinical outcomes.

Growth, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants induced by magnetic fields: A review

The Earth's geomagnetic field (GMF) is an inescapable environmental factor for plants that affects all growth and yield parameters. Both strong and weak magnetic fields (MF), as compared to the GMF, have specific roles in plant growth and development. MF technology is an eco-friendly technique that does not emit waste or generate harmful radiation, nor require any external power supply, so it can be used in sustainable modern agriculture. Thus, exposure of plants to MF is a potential affordable, reusable and safe practice for enhancing crop productivity by changing physiological and biochemical processes. However, the effect of MF on plant physiological and biochemical processes is not yet well understood. This review describes the effects of altering MF conditions (higher or lower values than the GMF) on physiological and biochemical processes of plants. The current contradictory and inconsistent outcomes from studies on varying effects of MF on plants could be related to species and/or MF exposure time and intensity. The reviewed literature suggests MF have a role in changing physiological processes, such as respiration, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, water relations and biochemical attributes, including genes involved in ROS, antioxidants, enzymes, proteins and secondary metabolites. MF application might efficiently increase growth and yield of many crops, and as such, should be the focus for future research.

The distinguishing electrical properties of cancer cells

In recent decades, medical research has been primarily focused on the inherited aspect of cancers, despite the reality that only 5-10% of tumours discovered are derived from genetic causes. Cancer is a broad term, and therefore it is inaccurate to address it as a purely genetic disease. Understanding cancer cells' behaviour is the first step in countering them. Behind the scenes, there is a complicated network of environmental factors, DNA errors, metabolic shifts, and electrostatic alterations that build over time and lead to the illness's development. This latter aspect has been analyzed in previous studies, but how the different electrical changes integrate and affect each other is rarely examined. Every cell in the human body possesses electrical properties that are essential for proper behaviour both within and outside of the cell itself. It is not yet clear whether these changes correlate with cell mutation in cancer cells, or only with their subsequent development. Either way, these aspects merit further investigation, especially with regards to their causes and consequences. Trying to block changes at various levels of occurrence or assisting in their prevention could be the key to stopping cells from becoming cancerous. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge regarding the electrical landscape of cells is much needed. We review four essential electrical characteristics of cells, providing a deep understanding of the electrostatic changes in cancer cells compared to their normal counterparts. In particular, we provide an overview of intracellular and extracellular pH modifications, differences in ionic concentrations in the cytoplasm, transmembrane potential variations, and changes within mitochondria. New therapies targeting or exploiting the electrical properties of cells are developed and tested every year, such as pH-dependent carriers and tumour-treating fields. A brief section regarding the state-of-the-art of these therapies can be found at the end of this review. Finally, we highlight how these alterations integrate and potentially yield indications of cells' malignancy or metastatic index.

Genotoxic effects of electromagnetic field radiations from mobile phones

The use of wireless communication technology in mobile phones has revolutionized modern telecommunication and mobile phones have become so popular that their number exceeds the global population. Electromagnetic field radiations (EMR) are an integral part of wireless technology, which are emitted by mobile phones, mobile tower antennas, electric power stations, transmission lines, radars, microwave ovens, television sets, refrigerators, diagnostic, therapeutic, and other electronic devices. Manmade EMR sources have added to the existing burden of natural EMR human exposure arising from the Sun, cosmos, atmospheric discharges, and thunder storms. EMR including radiofrequency waves (RF) and extremely low-frequency radiation (ELF) has generated great interest as their short-term exposure causes headache, fatigue, tinnitus, concentration problems, depression, memory loss, skin irritation, sleep disorders, nausea, cardiovascular effects, chest pain, immunity, and hormonal disorders in humans, whereas long-term exposure to EMR leads to the development of cancer. The review has been written by collecting the information using various search engines including google scholar, PubMed, SciFinder, Science direct, EMF-portal, saferemr, and other websites from the internet. The main focus of this review is to delineate the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of EMR in humans and mammals. Numerous investigations revealed that exposure in the range of 0-300 GHz EMR is harmless as it did not increase micronuclei and chromosome aberrations. On the contrary, several other studies have demonstrated that exposure to EMR is genotoxic and mutagenic as it increases the frequency of micronuclei, chromosome aberrations, DNA adducts, DNA single and double strand breaks at the molecular level in vitro and in vivo. The EMR exposure induces reactive oxygen species and changes the fidelity of genes involved in signal transduction, cytoskeleton formation, and cellular metabolism.

Real-Time Monitoring of the Effect of Tumour-Treating Fields on Cell Division Using Live-Cell Imaging

The effects of electric fields (EFs) on various cell types have been thoroughly studied, and exhibit a well-known regulatory effect on cell processes, implicating their usage in several medical applications. While the specific effect exerted on cells is highly parameter-dependent, the majority of past research has focused primarily on low-frequency alternating fields (<1 kHz) and high-frequency fields (in the order of MHz). However, in recent years, low-intensity (1-3 V/cm) alternating EFs with intermediate frequencies (100-500 kHz) have been of topical interest as clinical treatments for cancerous tumours through their disruption of cell division and the mitotic spindle, which can lead to cell death. These aptly named tumour-treating fields (TTFields) have been approved by the FDA as a treatment modality for several cancers, such as malignant pleural mesothelioma and glioblastoma multiforme, demonstrating remarkable efficacy and a high safety profile. In this work, we report the results of in vitro experiments with HeLa and MCF-10A cells exposed to TTFields for 18 h, imaged in real time using live-cell imaging. Both studied cell lines were exposed to 100 kHz TTFields with a 1-1 duty cycle, which resulted in significant mitotic and cytokinetic arrest. In the experiments with HeLa cells, the effects of the TTFields' frequency (100 kHz vs. 200 kHz) and duty cycle (1-1 vs. 1-0) were also investigated. Notably, the anti-mitotic effect was stronger in the HeLa cells treated with 100 kHz TTFields. Additionally, it was found that single and two-directional TTFields (oriented orthogonally) exhibit a similar inhibitory effect on HeLa cell division. These results provide real-time evidence of the profound ability of TTFields to hinder the process of cell division by significantly delaying both the mitosis and cytokinesis phases of the cell cycle.

Multidimensional insights into the repeated electromagnetic field stimulation and biosystems interaction in aging and age-related diseases

We provide a multidimensional sequence of events that describe the electromagnetic field (EMF) stimulation and biological system interaction. We describe this process from the quantum to the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. We hypothesized that the sequence of events of these interactions starts with the oscillatory effect of the repeated electromagnetic stimulation (REMFS). These oscillations affect the interfacial water of an RNA causing changes at the quantum and molecular levels that release protons by quantum tunneling. Then protonation of RNA produces conformational changes that allow it to bind and activate Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 (HSF1). Activated HSF1 binds to the DNA expressing chaperones that help regulate autophagy and degradation of abnormal proteins. This action helps to prevent and treat diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease (PD) by increasing clearance of pathologic proteins. This framework is based on multiple mathematical models, computer simulations, biophysical experiments, and cellular and animal studies. Results of the literature review and our research point towards the capacity of REMFS to manipulate various networks altered in aging (Reale et al. PloS one 9, e104973, 2014), including delay of cellular senescence (Perez et al. 2008, Exp Gerontol 43, 307-316) and reduction in levels of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) (Perez et al. 2021, Sci Rep 11, 621). Results of these experiments using REMFS at low frequencies can be applied to the treatment of patients with age-related diseases. The use of EMF as a non-invasive therapeutic modality for Alzheimer's disease, specifically, holds promise. It is also necessary to consider the complicated and interconnected genetic and epigenetic effects of the REMFS-biological system's interaction while avoiding any possible adverse effects.

Effect of Magnetic and Electrical Fields on Yield, Shelf Life and Quality of Fruits

The presented article is a review of the literature reports on the influence of magnetic and electric fields on the growth, yield, ripening, and durability of fruits and their quality. The article shows the potential application of MF and EF in agricultural production. Magnetic and electrical fields increase the shelf life of the fruit and improve its quality. Alternating magnetic fields (AMF) with a value of 0.1–200 mT and a power frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz improve plant growth parameters. MF cause an increase in firmness, the rate of maturation, the content of beta-carotene, lycopene, and fructose, sugar concentration, and a reduction in acidity and respiration. The most common is a high-voltage electric field (HVEF) of 2–3.61 kV/cm. These fields extend the shelf life and improve the quality of fruit by decreasing respiration rate and ethylene production. The presented methods seem to be a promising way to increase the quantity and quality of crops in agricultural and fruit production. They are suitable for extending the shelf life of fruit and vegetables during their storage. Further research is needed to develop an accessible and uncomplicated way of applying MF and AEF in agricultural and fruit production.

Effects of Externally Applied Electric Fields on the Manipulation of Solvated-Chignolin Folding: Static- versus Alternating-Field Dichotomy at Play

The interaction between a protein and external electric field (EF) can alter its structure and dynamical behavior, which has a potential impact on the biological function of proteins and cause uncertain health consequences. Conversely, the application of EFs of judiciously selected intensity and frequency can help to treat disease, and optimization of this requires a greater understanding of EF-induced effects underpinning basic protein biophysics. In the present study, chignolin─an artificial protein sufficiently small to undergo fast-folding events and transitions─was selected as an ideal prototype to investigate how, and to what extent, externally applied electric fields may manipulate or influence protein-folding phenomena. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations have been performed of solvated chignolin to determine the distribution of folding states and their underlying transition dynamics, in the absence and presence of externally applied electric fields (both static and alternating); a key focus has been to ascertain how folding pathways are altered in an athermal sense by external fields. Compared to zero-field conditions, a dramatically different─indeed, bifurcated─behavior of chignolin-folding processes emerges between static- and alternating-field scenarios, especially vis-à-vis incipient stages of hydrophobic-core formation: in alternating fields, fold-state populations diversified, with an attendant acceleration of state-hopping folding kinetics, featuring the concomitant emergence of a new, quasi-stable structure compared to the native structure, in field-shifted energy landscapes.

Answers and Questions: Forty Years in Bioelectromagnetics

The work began in 1972 when three young assistant professors used a slime mold to see if electromagnetic fields would affect it. The fields did, though the effects were small and hard to tease out of the noise. The cell cycle was lengthened and there were changes in respiration. So, the next question was "how and why?" Further changes were seen using these and then other bacterial and eukaryotic cells in respiration, in ATP, in the protein replication chain, and so forth. Changes occurred even in cell extracts that lacked an intact plasma membrane. Nerve cells showed changes in leakage of neurotransmitters and in neurite outgrowth from excised ganglia. Based on some experiments with nerve cells, I also did some computer calculations, modeling the internal electric and magnetic fields and current densities in simplified representations of bone fractures and also of spinal cords in vertebrae. More recently, I have collaborated on some theoretical models of what fields might be doing at the cellular and molecular level, particularly with reference to the radical model. With each piece of research, my collaborators and I generally found a small piece of information about fields and biological systems; and each answer raised another set of questions, which is the way of science. Though bioelectromagnetic scientists have learned much and can say much at greater depth about what happens when an organism is exposed to a field, the fundamental question still remains: What exactly is going on here? © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Human‑made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced‑oscillation and voltage‑gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review)

Exposure of animals/biological samples to human‑made electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band, and the microwave/radio frequency (RF) band which is always combined with ELF, may lead to DNA damage. DNA damage is connected with cell death, infertility and other pathologies, including cancer. ELF exposure from high‑voltage power lines and complex RF exposure from wireless communication antennas/devices are linked to increased cancer risk. Almost all human‑made RF EMFs include ELF components in the form of modulation, pulsing and random variability. Thus, in addition to polarization and coherence, the existence of ELFs is a common feature of almost all human‑made EMFs. The present study reviews the DNA damage and related effects induced by human‑made EMFs. The ion forced‑oscillation mechanism for irregular gating of voltage‑gated ion channels on cell membranes by polarized/coherent EMFs is extensively described. Dysfunction of ion channels disrupts intracellular ionic concentrations, which determine the cell's electrochemical balance and homeostasis. The present study shows how this can result in DNA damage through reactive oxygen species/free radical overproduction. Thus, a complete picture is provided of how human‑made EMF exposure may indeed lead to DNA damage and related pathologies, including cancer. Moreover, it is suggested that the non‑thermal biological effects attributed to RF EMFs are actually due to their ELF components.

Health risks from radiofrequency radiation, including 5G, should be assessed by experts with no conflicts of interest

The fifth generation, 5G, of radiofrequency (RF) radiation is about to be implemented globally without investigating the risks to human health and the environment. This has created debate among concerned individuals in numerous countries. In an appeal to the European Union (EU) in September 2017, currently endorsed by >390 scientists and medical doctors, a moratorium on 5G deployment was requested until proper scientific evaluation of potential negative consequences has been conducted. This request has not been acknowledged by the EU. The evaluation of RF radiation health risks from 5G technology is ignored in a report by a government expert group in Switzerland and a recent publication from The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Conflicts of interest and ties to the industry seem to have contributed to the biased reports. The lack of proper unbiased risk evaluation of the 5G technology places populations at risk. Furthermore, there seems to be a cartel of individuals monopolizing evaluation committees, thus reinforcing the no-risk paradigm. We believe that this activity should qualify as scientific misconduct.

Thermomagnetic resonance affects cancer growth and motility

The fight against a multifaceted incurable disease such as cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach to overcome the multitude of molecular defects at its origin. Here, a new thermophysical biochemical approach has been suggested and associated with the use of electromagnetic fields to control the growth of cancer cells. In particular, thermodynamic analysis of the heat transfer is developed in correlation with cellular parameters such as the volume/area ratio. We propose that the electromagnetic wave, at the specific frequency calculated as the characteristic response time of any cell type to the external thermal perturbation, can affect resonant intracellular molecular oscillations. The biochemical model hypothesizes that microtubules are stabilized, and the impact is predicted on cell growth, migration and mitochondrial activity. Experimental validation of the theoretical results shows that the thermodynamic analysis allows the application of the specific electromagnetic field able to decrease cancer cell invasion and proliferation.

On the biophysical mechanism of sensing upcoming earthquakes by animals

It is documented that a few days or weeks before major Earthquakes (EQs) there are changes in animal behavior within distances up to 500 km from the seismic epicenter. At the same time Seismic Electric Signals (SES), geomagnetic and ionospheric perturbations, are detected within similar distances. SES consist of single unipolar pulses, and/or groups of such pulses called "SES activities" with an average frequency between successive pulses on the order of ~0.01 Hz and electric field intensity on the order of ~10^-5-10^-4 V/m (Frazer-Smith et al., 1990; Rikitake, 1998; Varotsos et al., 1993, 2011, 2019; Hayakawa et al., 2013; Grant et al., 2015). We show that the SES activities can be sensed by living organisms through the "Ion Forced-Oscillation Mechanism" for the action of Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) on cells, according to which polarized EMFs can cause irregular gating of electro-sensitive ion channels on the cell membranes with consequent disruption of the cell electrochemical balance (Panagopoulos et al., 2000, 2002, 2015). This can be sensed by sensitive animals as discomfort in cases of weak and transient exposures, and may even lead to DNA damage and serious health implications in cases of intense exposure conditions (as in certain cases of man-made EMF exposures). Moreover, we show that the geomagnetic and ionospheric perturbations cannot be sensed through this mechanism. The same mechanism has explained meteoropathy, the sensing of upcoming thunderstorms by sensitive individuals, through the action of the EMFs of lightning discharges (Panagopoulos and Balmori, 2017). The present study shows that centuries-long anecdotal rumors of animals sensing intense upcoming EQs and displaying unusual behavior, lately documented by systematic studies, are now explained for the first time on the basis of the electromagnetic nature of all living organisms, and the electromagnetic signals emitted prior to EQs.

Role of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in static magnetic field pre-treatment induced tolerance to ambient UV-B stress in soybean

The experiments were conducted for the estimation of the mitigating effect of the static magnetic field (SMF of 200 mT for 1 h) treatment on soybean under ambient UV-B stress. The SMF treated (MT) and untreated (UT) seeds were grown inside iron cages covered with polyester filters for the purpose to filter UV-A + B (< 400 nm) and UV-B (< 300 nm) radiations, polythene filter control (FC) transparent for UV (280-400 nm), and open controls (OC) were without any filters. Our results indicated that specific leaf weight, efficiency of PS II, activity of carbonic anhydrase (CA) and nitrogenase (NRA), nucleic acid and protein content, nitric oxide (NO) and yield were significantly decreased in plants of untreated seeds under UV-B stress. SMF treatment to the soybean seeds was observed to mitigate the adverse effect of ambient UV-B with a significant enhancement in above-measured parameters in plants when compared with plants of untreated seeds grown under OC/FC conditions. Chlorophyll a fluorescence transition curve (OJIP-curve) from SMF treated and UV excluded plants has shown a higher fluorescence yield especially for I-P phase as compared to the plants grown in ambient UV-B stress. Reduction in the level of superoxide anion radicle ( O 2 · - ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline content with a remarkable increase in DNA, RNA, protein and NO content, increased photosynthetic efficiency and nitrogen fixation in the leaves of soybean suggested the ameliorating effect of SMF pre-treatment against ambient UV-B induced damage. Consequently, SMF-pretreatment increased the tolerance of soybean seedlings to ambient UV-B stress as compared to the untreated seeds. The increase in carbon and nitrogen fixation ability due to SMF pre-treatment and the omission of solar UV radiation impact can be a direction for the purpose to improve the crop yield. Evaluation of the consequences of SMF treated seeds under ambient UV-B stress, and the plants from untreated seeds under solar UV exclusion indicated parallelism among the two effects.

Comparative cyto- and genotoxicity of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz electromagnetic field radiations in root meristems of Allium cepa

In the last few decades, tremendous increase in the use of wireless electronic gadgets, particularly the cell phones, has significantly enhanced the levels of electromagnetic field radiations (EMF-r) in the environment. Therefore, it is pertinent to study the effect of these radiations on biological systems including plants. We investigated comparative cytotoxic and DNA damaging effects of 900 and 1800 MHz EMF-r in Allium cepa (onion) root meristematic cells in terms of mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Onion bulbs were subjected to 900 and 1800 MHz (at power densities 261 ± 8.50 mW m^-2 and 332 ± 10.36 mW m^-2, respectively) of EMF-r for 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h. Root length declined by 13.2% and 12.3%, whereas root thickness was increased by 46.7% and 48.3% after 4 h exposure to 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, respectively. Cytogenetic studies exhibited clastogenic effect of EMF-r as depicted by increased CAs and MI. MI increased by 36% and 53% after 2 and 4 h exposure to 900 MHz EMF-r, whereas it increased by 41% and 67% in response to 1800 MHz EMF-r. Aberration index was increased by 41%-266% and 14%-257% during 0.5-4 h of exposure to 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, respectively, over the control. EMF-r exposure decreased % head DNA (DNAH) and increased % tail DNA (DNAT) and olive tail moment (OTM) at both 900 and 1800 EMF-r. In 4 h exposure treatments, head DNA (%) declined by 19% and 23% at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, respectively. DNAT and OTM were increased by 2.3 and 3.7 fold upon exposure to 900 MHz EMF-r over that in the control, whereas 2.8 and 5.8 fold increase was observed in response to 1800 MHz EMF-r exposure for 4 h and the difference was statistically significant. The study concludes that EMF-r in the communication range (900 and 1800 MHz) adversely affect root meristems in plants and induce cytotoxic and DNA damage. EMF-r induced DNA damage was more pronounced at 1800 MHz than that at 900 MHz.

ROS from Physical Plasmas: Redox Chemistry for Biomedical Therapy

Physical plasmas generate unique mixes of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS or ROS). Only a bit more than a decade ago, these plasmas, operating at body temperature, started to be considered for medical therapy with considerably little mechanistic redox chemistry or biomedical research existing on that topic at that time. Today, a vast body of evidence is available on physical plasma-derived ROS, from their spatiotemporal resolution in the plasma gas phase to sophisticated chemical and biochemical analysis of these species once dissolved in liquids. Data from in silico analysis dissected potential reaction pathways of plasma-derived reactive species with biological membranes, and in vitro and in vivo experiments in cell and animal disease models identified molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic benefits of physical plasmas. In 2013, the first medical plasma systems entered the European market as class IIa devices and have proven to be a valuable resource in dermatology, especially for supporting the healing of chronic wounds. The first results in cancer patients treated with plasma are promising, too. Due to the many potentials of this blooming new field ahead, there is a need to highlight the main concepts distilled from plasma research in chemistry and biology that serve as a mechanistic link between plasma physics (how and which plasma-derived ROS are produced) and therapy (what is the medical benefit). This inevitably puts cellular membranes in focus, as these are the natural interphase between ROS produced by plasmas and translation of their chemical reactivity into distinct biological responses.

Shielding methods and products against man-made Electromagnetic Fields: Protection versus risk

Human exposure to man-made Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) has increased to unprecedented levels, accompanied by increase in various health problems. A connection has been indicated by an increasing number of studies. Symptoms characterized as Electro-hyper-sensitivity (EHS) are frequently reported especially in urban environments. Lately, people are advised by private companies and individuals to protect themselves from man-made EMFs by metal shielding through various products, for which there are reasonable concerns about their protective efficacy and safety. Indeed, any metal shielding practice, even when correctly applied, attenuates not only man-made totally polarized EMFs accused for the health problems, but also the natural non-polarized EMFs responsible for the biological rhythmicity and well-being of all animals. Strong evidence on this was provided by pioneering experiments in the 1960's and 1970's, with volunteers staying in a shielded underground apartment. We analyze the physical principles of EMF-shielding, the importance of natural atmospheric EMFs, and examine available shielding methods and suggested products, relying on science-based evidence. We suggest that an avoidance strategy is safer than shielding, and provide specific protection tips. We do not reject shielding in general, but describe ways to keep it at a minimum by intermittent use, as this is theoretically safer than extensive permanent shielding. We explain why metallic patches or "chips" or minerals claimed by sellers to be protective, do not seem to make sense and might even be risky. We finally suggest urgent research on the safety and efficacy of shielding methods combined with use of generators emitting weak pulses of similar frequency, intensity, and waveform with the natural atmospheric resonances.

Comparing DNA damage induced by mobile telephony and other types of man-made electromagnetic fields

The number of studies showing adverse effects on living organisms induced by different types of man-made Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) has increased tremendously. Hundreds of peer reviewed published studies show a variety of effects, the most important being DNA damage which is linked to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, reproductive declines etc. Those studies that are far more effective in showing effects employ real-life Mobile Telephony (MT) exposures emitted by commercially available mobile phones. The present review - of results published by my group from 2006 until 2016 - compares DNA fragmentation induced by six different EMFs on the same biological system - the oogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster - under identical conditions and procedures. Such a direct comparison between different EMFs - especially those employed in daily life - on the same biological endpoint, is very useful for drawing conclusions on their bioactivity, and novel. It shows that real MT EMFs are far more damaging than 50 Hz alternating magnetic field (MF) - similar or much stronger to those of power lines - or a pulsed electric field (PEF) found before to increase fertility. The MT EMFs were significantly more bioactive even for much shorter exposure durations than the other EMFs. Moreover, they were more damaging than previously tested cytotoxic agents like certain chemicals, starvation, dehydration. Individual parameters of the real MT EMFs like intensity, frequency, exposure duration, polarization, pulsing, modulation, are discussed in terms of their role in bioactivity. The crucial parameter for the intense bioactivity seems to be the extreme variability of the polarized MT signals, mainly due to the large unpredictable intensity changes.

Effect of magnetic field on in vitro seedling growth and shoot regeneration from cotyledon node explants of Lathyrus chrysanthus boiss

The stimulatory effects on germination of seeds and growth of plants of static magnetic field (MF) pre-treatments depending on MF intensity, exposure time periods, signal form, flux density, and source frequencies on plants are reported. Seed germination frequency is low due to dormancy in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. from Fabaceae family, consisting of 187 taxa. Tissue culture protocol for this plant has already been optimized. This plant is also used as a model for developing alternative methods to overcome dormancy. This study was conducted to determine the effects of MF on in vitro seed germination, seedling growth, and shoot regeneration capacity of cotyledon node explants in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. to obtain healthy seedlings in large quantities. The seeds of an ecotype (Diyarbakir) were subjected to 125 mT MF strength for different exposure time periods (0-untreated, 24, 48, and 72 h). Sterilized seeds were germinated on growth basal medium in Magenta vessels. Seed germination and seedling growth percentages were recorded after 7 and 14 days of culture initiation, whereas seedling and root lengths were noted 28 days after culture initiation. At the end of the culture, shoot regeneration percentage, shoot number per explant, highest shoot height per explant, and total shoot number per petri dish were recorded. According to the results, it could be concluded that MF treatment could clearly be used to improve germination by breaking dormancy not only in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. but also other plant species. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:547-555, 2018.© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

ATP sensitive K+ channel subunits (Kir6.1, Kir6.2) are the candidate mediators regulating ameliorating effects of pulsed magnetic field on aortic contractility in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes increased morbidity and mortality in developed and developing countries. With recent advancements in technology, alternative treatment methods have begun to be investigated in the world. This study aims to evaluate the effect of pulsed magnetic field (PMF) on vascular complications and contractile activities of aortic rings along with Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 subunit expressions of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K_ATP ) in aortas of controlled-diabetic and non-controlled diabetic rats. Controlled-diabetic and non-controlled diabetic adult male Wistar rats were exposed to PMF for a period of 6 weeks according to the PMF application protocol (1 h/day; intensity: 1.5 mT; consecutive frequency: 1, 10, 20, and 40 Hz). After PMF exposure, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured. Then, thoracic aorta tissue was extracted for relaxation-contraction and Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 expression experiments. Blood plasma glucose levels, body weight, and aortic ring contraction percentage decreased in controlled-diabetic rats but increased in non-controlled diabetic rats. PMF therapy repressed Kir6.1 mRNA expression in non-controlled diabetic rats but not in controlled diabetic rats. Conversely, Kir6.2 mRNA expressions were repressed both in controlled diabetic and non-controlled diabetic rats by PMF. Our findings suggest that the positive therapeutic effects of PMF may act through (K_ATP ) subunits and may frequently occur in insulin-free conditions. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:299-311, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

On the biophysical mechanism of sensing atmospheric discharges by living organisms

Atmospheric electrical discharges during thunderstorms, and the related electromagnetic fields (EMFs)/waves called sferics, can be sensed by humans at long distances through a variety of symptoms, mainly headache, fatigue, etc. Up to today there is no explanation for this association. Sferics consist of partially polarized electromagnetic pulses with an oscillating carrier signal in the very low frequency (VLF) band and a pulse repetition frequency in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band. Their ELF intensity may reach ~5mV/m at global ranges, and ~0.5V/m at ~1000km from the lightning. The health symptoms associated with sferics are also associated with antennas of mobile telephony base stations and handsets, which emit radio frequency (RF) radiation pulsed on ELF, and expose humans at similar or stronger electric field intensities with sferics. According to the Ion Forced-Oscillation mechanism, polarized ELF EMFs of intensities down to 0.1-1mV/m are able to disrupt any living cell's electrochemical balance and function by irregular gating of electro-sensitive ion channels on the cell membranes, and thus initiate a variety of health symptoms, while VLF EMFs need to be thousands of times stronger in order to be able to initiate health effects. We examine EMFs from sferics in terms of their bioactivity on the basis of this mechanism. We introduce the hypothesis that stronger atmospheric discharges may reasonably be considered to be ~70% along a straight line, and thus the associated EMFs (sferics) ~70% polarized. We find that sferics mainly in the ELF band have adequate intensity and polarization to cause biological/health effects. We provide explanation for the effects of sferics on human/animal health on the basis of this mechanism.

EMF radiations (1800 MHz)-inhibited early seedling growth of maize (Zea mays) involves alterations in starch and sucrose metabolism

The present study investigated the impact of 1800-MHz electromagnetic field radiations (EMF-r), widely used in mobile communication, on the growth and activity of starch-, sucrose-, and phosphate-hydrolyzing enzymes in Zea mays seedlings. We exposed Z. mays to modulated continuous wave homogenous EMF-r at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.69±0.0 × 10(-1) W kg(-1) for ½, 1, 2, and 4 h. The analysis of seedlings after 7 days revealed that short-term exposure did not induce any significant change, while longer exposure of 4 h caused significant growth and biochemical alterations. There was a reduction in the root and coleoptile length with more pronounced effect on coleoptile growth (23 % reduction on 4-h exposure). The contents of photosynthetic pigments and total carbohydrates declined by 13 and 18 %, respectively, in 4-h exposure treatments compared to unexposed control. The activity of starch-hydrolyzing enzymes-α- and β-amylases-increased by ∼92 and 94 %, respectively, at an exposure duration of 4 h, over that in the control. In response to 4-h exposure treatment, the activity of sucrolytic enzymes-acid invertases and alkaline invertases-was increased by 88 and 266 %, whereas the specific activities of phosphohydrolytic enzymes (acid phosphatases and alkaline phosphatases) showed initial increase up to ≤2 h duration and then declined at >2 h exposure duration. The study concludes that EMF-r-inhibited seedling growth of Z. mays involves interference with starch and sucrose metabolism.

Polarization: A Key Difference between Man-made and Natural Electromagnetic Fields, in regard to Biological Activity

In the present study we analyze the role of polarization in the biological activity of Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)/Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR). All types of man-made EMFs/EMR - in contrast to natural EMFs/EMR - are polarized. Polarized EMFs/EMR can have increased biological activity, due to: 1) Ability to produce constructive interference effects and amplify their intensities at many locations. 2) Ability to force all charged/polar molecules and especially free ions within and around all living cells to oscillate on parallel planes and in phase with the applied polarized field. Such ionic forced-oscillations exert additive electrostatic forces on the sensors of cell membrane electro-sensitive ion channels, resulting in their irregular gating and consequent disruption of the cell's electrochemical balance. These features render man-made EMFs/EMR more bioactive than natural non-ionizing EMFs/EMR. This explains the increasing number of biological effects discovered during the past few decades to be induced by man-made EMFs, in contrast to natural EMFs in the terrestrial environment which have always been present throughout evolution, although human exposure to the latter ones is normally of significantly higher intensities/energy and longer durations. Thus, polarization seems to be a trigger that significantly increases the probability for the initiation of biological/health effects.

Real versus Simulated Mobile Phone Exposures in Experimental Studies

We examined whether exposures to mobile phone radiation in biological/clinical experiments should be performed with real-life Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) emitted by commercially available mobile phone handsets, instead of simulated EMFs emitted by generators or test phones. Real mobile phone emissions are constantly and unpredictably varying and thus are very different from simulated emissions which employ fixed parameters and no variability. This variability is an important parameter that makes real emissions more bioactive. Living organisms seem to have decreased defense against environmental stressors of high variability. While experimental studies employing simulated EMF-emissions present a strong inconsistency among their results with less than 50% of them reporting effects, studies employing real mobile phone exposures demonstrate an almost 100% consistency in showing adverse effects. This consistency is in agreement with studies showing association with brain tumors, symptoms of unwellness, and declines in animal populations. Average dosimetry in studies with real emissions can be reliable with increased number of field measurements, and variation in experimental outcomes due to exposure variability becomes less significant with increased number of experimental replications. We conclude that, in order for experimental findings to reflect reality, it is crucially important that exposures be performed by commercially available mobile phone handsets.

Influence of pulsed electromagnetic and pulsed vector magnetic potential field on the growth of tumor cells

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Tumor diseases cause 20% of deaths in Europe and they are the second most common cause of death and morbidity after cardiovascular diseases. Thus, tumor cells are target of many therapeutic strategies and tumor research is focused on searching more efficient and specific drugs as well as new therapeutic approaches. One of the areas of tumor research is an issue of external fields. In our work, we tested influence of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) and a hypothetic field of the pulsed vector magnetic potential (PVMP) on the growth of tumor cells; and further the possible growth inhibition effect of the PVMP.

METHODS

Both unipolar and bipolar PEMF fields of 5 mT and PVMP fields of 0 mT at frequencies of 15 Hz, 125 Hz and 625 Hz were tested on cancer cell lines derived from various types of tumors: CEM/C2 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), SU-DHL-4 (B-cell lymphoma), COLO-320DM (colorectal adenocarcinoma), MDA-BM-468 (breast adenocarcinoma), and ZR-75-1 (ductal carcinoma). Cell morphology was observed, proliferation activity using WST assay was measured and simultaneous proportion of live, early apoptotic and dead cells was detected using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

A PEMF of 125 Hz and 625 Hz for 24 h-48 h increased proliferation activity in the 2 types of cancer cell lines used, i.e. COLO-320DM and ZR-75-1. In contrast, any of employed methods did not confirm a significant inhibitory effect of hypothetic PVMP field on tumor cells.

Effects of electromagnetic fields on osteogenesis of human alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells

This study was performed to investigate the effects of extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF-PEMFs) on the proliferation and differentiation of human alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hABMSCs). Osteogenesis is a complex series of events involving the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to generate new bone. In this study, we examined not merely the effect of ELF-PEMFs on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization of the extracellular matrix but vinculin, vimentin, and calmodulin (CaM) expressions in hABMSCs during osteogenic differentiation. Exposure of hABMSCs to ELF-PEMFs increased proliferation by 15% compared to untreated cells at day 5. In addition, exposure to ELF-PEMFs significantly increased ALP expression during the early stages of osteogenesis and substantially enhanced mineralization near the midpoint of osteogenesis within 2 weeks. ELF-PEMFs also increased vinculin, vimentin, and CaM expressions, compared to control. In particular, CaM indicated that ELF-PEMFs significantly altered the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. The results indicated that ELF-PEMFs could enhance early cell proliferation in hABMSCs-mediated osteogenesis and accelerate the osteogenesis.

Evaluation of specific absorption rate as a dosimetric quantity for electromagnetic fields bioeffects

PURPOSE

To evaluate SAR as a dosimetric quantity for EMF bioeffects, and identify ways for increasing the precision in EMF dosimetry and bioactivity assessment.

METHODS

We discuss the interaction of man-made electromagnetic waves with biological matter and calculate the energy transferred to a single free ion within a cell. We analyze the physics and biology of SAR and evaluate the methods of its estimation. We discuss the experimentally observed non-linearity between electromagnetic exposure and biological effect.

RESULTS

WE FIND THAT: a) The energy absorbed by living matter during exposure to environmentally accounted EMFs is normally well below the thermal level. b) All existing methods for SAR estimation, especially those based upon tissue conductivity and internal electric field, have serious deficiencies. c) The only method to estimate SAR without large error is by measuring temperature increases within biological tissue, which normally are negligible for environmental EMF intensities, and thus cannot be measured.

CONCLUSIONS

SAR actually refers to thermal effects, while the vast majority of the recorded biological effects from man-made non-ionizing environmental radiation are non-thermal. Even if SAR could be accurately estimated for a whole tissue, organ, or body, the biological/health effect is determined by tiny amounts of energy/power absorbed by specific biomolecules, which cannot be calculated. Moreover, it depends upon field parameters not taken into account in SAR calculation. Thus, SAR should not be used as the primary dosimetric quantity, but used only as a complementary measure, always reporting the estimating method and the corresponding error. Radiation/field intensity along with additional physical parameters (such as frequency, modulation etc) which can be directly and in any case more accurately measured on the surface of biological tissues, should constitute the primary measure for EMF exposures, in spite of similar uncertainty to predict the biological effect due to non-linearity.

Non-thermal effects of 2.45 GHz microwaves on spindle assembly, mitotic cells and viability of Chinese hamster V-79 cells

The production of mitotic spindle disturbances and activation of the apoptosis pathway in V79 Chinese hamster cells by continuous 2.45 GHz microwaves exposure were studied, in order to investigate possible non-thermal cell damage. We demonstrated that microwave (MW) exposure at the water resonance frequency was able to induce alteration of the mitotic apparatus and apoptosis as a function of the applied power densities (5 and 10mW/cm(2)), together with a moderate reduction in the rate of cell division. After an exposure time of 15 min the proportion of aberrant spindles and of apoptotic cells was significantly increased, while the mitotic index decreased as well, as compared to the untreated V79 cells. Additionally, in order to understand if the observed effects were due to RF exposure per se or to a thermal effect, V79 cells were also treated in thermostatic bath mimicking the same temperature increase recorded during microwave emission. The effect of temperature on the correct assembly of mitotic spindles was negligible up to 41°C, while apoptosis was induced only when the medium temperature achieved 40°C, thus exceeding the maximum value registered during MW exposure. We hypothesise that short-time MW exposures at the water resonance frequency cause, in V79 cells, reversible alterations of the mitotic spindle, this representing, in turn, a pro-apoptotic signal for the cell line.

Alleviation of adverse effects of drought stress on growth and some potential physiological attributes in maize (Zea mays L.) by seed electromagnetic treatment

Effects of varying preseed magnetic treatments on growth, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, water relation attributes, fluorescence and levels of osmoprotectants in maize plants were tested under normal and drought stress conditions. Seeds of two maize cultivars were treated with different (T0 [0 mT], T1 [100 mT for 5 min], T2 [100 mT for 10 min], T3 [150 mT for 5 min] and T4 [150 mT for 10 min]) electromagnetic treatments. Drought stress considerably suppressed growth, chlorophyll a and b pigments, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g(s)) and substomatal CO(2) concentration (C(i)), while it increased leaf glycinebetaine and proline accumulation in both maize cultivars. However, pretreated seeds with different magnetic treatments significantly alleviated the drought-induced adverse effects on growth by improving chlorophyll a, A, E, g(s), C(i) and photochemical quenching and nonphotochemical quenching, while it had no significant effect on other attributes. However, different magnetic treatments negatively affected the g(s) and C(i) particularly in cv. Agaiti-2002 under drought stress conditions. Of all magnetic treatments, 100 and 150 mT for 10 min were most effective in alleviating the drought-induced adverse effects. Overall, preseed electromagnetic treatments could be used to minimize the drought-induced adverse effects on different crop plants.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on human osteoblastlike cells (MG-63): a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Although pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are used to treat delayed unions and nonunions, their mechanisms of action are not completely clear. However, PEMFs are known to affect the expression of certain genes.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

We asked (1) whether PEMFs affect gene expression in human osteoblastlike cells (MG63) in vitro, and (2) whether and to what extent stimulation by PEMFs induce cell proliferation and differentiation in MG-63 cultures.

METHODS

We cultured two groups of MG63 cells. One group was treated with PEMFs for 18 hours whereas the second was maintained in the same culture condition without PEMFs (control). Gene expression was evaluated throughout cDNA microarray analysis containing 19,000 genes spanning a substantial fraction of the human genome.

RESULTS

PEMFs induced the upregulation of important genes related to bone formation (HOXA10, AKT1), genes at the transductional level (CALM1, P2RX7), genes for cytoskeletal components (FN1, VCL), and collagenous (COL1A2) and noncollagenous (SPARC) matrix components. However, PEMF induced downregulation of genes related to the degradation of extracellular matrix (MMP-11, DUSP4).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

PEMFs appear to induce cell proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, PEMFs promote extracellular matrix production and mineralization while decreasing matrix degradation and absorption. Our data suggest specific mechanisms of the observed clinical effect of PEMFs, and thus specific approaches for use in regenerative medicine.

The identification of an intensity 'window' on the bioeffects of mobile telephony radiation

PURPOSE

The increased bioactivity 'windows' of GSM 900 and 1800 MHz radiations, (Global System for Mobile telecommunications) revealed recently by us and published in this issue, manifesting themselves as a maximum decrease in the reproductive capacity of the insect Drosophila melanogaster, were examined to discover whether they depend on the intensity of radiation-fields.

METHODS

In each experiment, one group of insects were exposed to the GSM 900 or 1800 radiation at 30 or 20 cm distances, respectively, from the antenna of a mobile phone, where the bioactivity 'window' appears for each type of radiation and another group was exposed at 8 or 5 cm, respectively, behind a metal grid, shielding both microwave radiation and the extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields for both types of radiation in a way that radiation and field intensities were roughly equal between the two groups. Then the effect on reproductive capacity was compared between groups for each type of radiation.

RESULTS

The decrease in the reproductive capacity did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The bioactivity window seems to be due to the intensity of radiation-field (10 microW/cm(2), 0.6-0.7 V/m) at 30 or 20 cm from the GSM 900 or 1800 mobile phone antenna, respectively.