Abstract
Under quite general conditions, the biological response j(G) to a very weak continuous 60-Hz electric or magnetic field G is shown to be proportional to the square of the field strength. This conclusion follows from the continuity of the function j(G) and the first three derivatives of j(G) with respect to G over the amplitude of G. That continuity is ensured in nominally discontinuous systems by the presence of thermal noise. I argue the validity of the conjecture that all plausible biological responses to weak 60-Hz fields vary with the square of the field strength. A specific model is used to illustrate characteristic dependencies of biological responses to exposure times.
Full text
PDF



Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Adair R. K. Constraints of thermal noise on the effects of weak 60-Hz magnetic fields acting on biological magnetite. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Apr 12;91(8):2925–2929. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.8.2925. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Adair R. K. Effects of ELF magnetic fields on biological magnetite. Bioelectromagnetics. 1993;14(1):1–4. doi: 10.1002/bem.2250140103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Adair RK. Constraints on biological effects of weak extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields. Phys Rev A. 1991 Jan 15;43(2):1039–1048. doi: 10.1103/physreva.43.1039. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Adair RK. Reply to "Comment on 'Constraints on biological effects of weak extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields' ". Phys Rev A. 1992 Aug 15;46(4):2185–2187. doi: 10.1103/physreva.46.2185. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Feychting M., Ahlbom A. Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines. Am J Epidemiol. 1993 Oct 1;138(7):467–481. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116881. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Keith A. D., Snipes W. Viscosity of cellular protoplasm. Science. 1974 Feb 15;183(4125):666–668. doi: 10.1126/science.183.4125.666. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kirschvink J. L., Kobayashi-Kirschvink A., Woodford B. J. Magnetite biomineralization in the human brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Aug 15;89(16):7683–7687. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.16.7683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kirschvink JL. Comment on "Constraints on biological effects of weak extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields". Phys Rev A. 1992 Aug 15;46(4):2178–2184. doi: 10.1103/physreva.46.2178. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Olsen J. H., Nielsen A., Schulgen G. Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children. BMJ. 1993 Oct 9;307(6909):891–895. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6909.891. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Verkasalo P. K., Pukkala E., Hongisto M. Y., Valjus J. E., Järvinen P. J., Heikkilä K. V., Koskenvuo M. Risk of cancer in Finnish children living close to power lines. BMJ. 1993 Oct 9;307(6909):895–899. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6909.895. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weaver J. C., Astumian R. D. Estimates for ELF effects: noise-based thresholds and the number of experimental conditions required for empirical searches. Bioelectromagnetics. 1992;Suppl 1:119–138. doi: 10.1002/bem.2250130712. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weaver J. C., Astumian R. D. The response of living cells to very weak electric fields: the thermal noise limit. Science. 1990 Jan 26;247(4941):459–462. doi: 10.1126/science.2300806. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]