Magnetic fields alter electrical properties of solutions and their physiological effects

Abstract Calcium chloride and snail physiological salt solutions were exposed to static magnetic fields (2.3–350 mT), and the physical properties of the solutions as well as their biologic effects were studied. Our preliminary observations show that these fields alter physicochemical properties of CaCl 2 solutions and the functional effects of physiological solutions. Experiments on CaCl 2 solutions demonstrated field‐dependent changes of electrical conductivity, with the magnitude and the direction of conductivity change being a function of both concentration and field intensity. The changes in conductivity were maintained for periods in excess of 1 h after exposure. Conductivity changes were not found after exposure of physiological solutions to static magnetic fields, but changes of biological consequence did occur. Other experiments showed that there were several changes in cellular function observed in ganglia and isolated neurons of Helix pomatia when the perfusing medium was changed from the normal physiologic solution to the same solution after exposure to magnetic fields. These changes include membrane depolarization and increased action potential discharge, reduced uptake of Ca into cells, altered content of cyclic nucleotides in ganglia, and increased volume of isolated cell bodies. A change in hydration of calcium ions may be one of the consequences of magnetic‐field exposure, and in physiological solutions this change may have functional consequences. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.