This theoretical biophysics study models the radical pair mechanism as an open quantum system to derive an explicit dependence of magnetic-field effects on the spin coherence relaxation time (τ) and chemical kinetics (k). It reports a condition under which RPM effects become significant and estimates τ in cryptochrome-like proteins to be on the order of units to tens of nanoseconds. The paper also reports that nanoTesla-level radio-frequency fields have minor influence and are unlikely to disrupt RPM patterns under the modeled decoherence.

This 2025 review examines claims of biological effects from weak, nonthermal RF magnetic fields and evaluates whether such effects could be mediated by the radical pair mechanism (RPM). It reports that aligning RPM theory with low-level experimental observations remains difficult and that many experimental findings are limited by reproducibility, statistical robustness, and dosimetry issues. The authors conclude a tangible but incompletely understood link may exist and emphasize the need for more rigorous, standardized, interdisciplinary work.

This mini-review discusses the radical pair mechanism as a plausible biophysical route by which external magnetic fields could influence biochemical processes in living systems. It is intended as a primer for magneto-oncology researchers to assess whether observed magnetic-field-related biomedical effects may be explained by radical pair biochemistry. The article also notes the value of this framework for refining therapeutic protocols and for identifying potential experimental artifacts in oncology-related magnetic field research.