Mechanisms for electric and magnetic fields effects on biological cells

Abstract

The application of electric and magnetic fields to biological systems can lead to changes that occur through a variety of physical mechanisms. These include changes in the ionic and molecular currents, changes in temperature due to heating, the lifetimes of free radicals, and the orientation of molecules. The importance of these mechanisms is a function of the biological system, the applied frequency, amplitude, and the length of exposure. These physical mechanisms, in turn, lead to changes in chemical reaction rates, molecular bindings to membranes, signaling between cells, and changes in the biology by way of changes in growth rates and cell functions, etc. In this paper, some ways in which measurements can be made to help sort out the physics leading to some of observed biological changes are described.