Upper bound on the biological effects of 50/60 Hz magnetic fields mediated by radical pairs

Abstract

Upper bound on the biological effects of 50/60 Hz magnetic fields mediated by radical pairs Hore PJ. Upper bound on the biological effects of 50/60 Hz magnetic fields mediated by radical pairs. Elife. 2019 Feb 25;8. pii: e44179. doi: 10.7554/eLife.44179. Abstract Prolonged exposure to weak (~1 µT) extremely-low-frequency (ELF, 50/60 Hz) magnetic fields has been associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia. One of the few biophysical mechanisms that might account for this link involves short-lived chemical reaction intermediates known as radical pairs. In this report, we use spin dynamics simulations to derive an upper bound of 10 parts per million on the effect of a 1 µT ELF magnetic field on the yield of a radical pair reaction. By comparing this figure with the corresponding effects of changes in the strength of the Earth's magnetic field, we conclude that if exposure to such weak 50/60 Hz magnetic fields has any effect on human biology, and results from a radical pair mechanism, then the risk should be no greater than travelling a few kilometres towards or away from the geomagnetic north or south pole. Open access paper: elifesciences.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using spin dynamics simulations, the report derives an upper bound of 10 parts per million on the effect of a ~1 µT 50/60 Hz magnetic field on the yield of a radical pair reaction. The author concludes that if such weak ELF magnetic fields affect human biology via a radical pair mechanism, the risk should be no greater than that associated with travelling a few kilometres toward or away from the geomagnetic poles (i.e., changes in Earth’s magnetic field strength).

Outcomes measured

• Radical pair reaction yield (spin dynamics simulations)
• Upper bound on biological effect magnitude from 1 µT 50/60 Hz magnetic fields (radical pair mechanism context)

Limitations

• Modeling/simulation study (spin dynamics) rather than direct biological/epidemiological measurements
• Assumes effects, if any, are mediated by a radical pair mechanism
• Focuses on an upper bound for a specific field strength (~1 µT) and frequency (50/60 Hz)

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "prolonged exposure (mentioned)"
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Radical pair reaction yield (spin dynamics simulations)",
        "Upper bound on biological effect magnitude from 1 µT 50/60 Hz magnetic fields (radical pair mechanism context)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using spin dynamics simulations, the report derives an upper bound of 10 parts per million on the effect of a ~1 µT 50/60 Hz magnetic field on the yield of a radical pair reaction. The author concludes that if such weak ELF magnetic fields affect human biology via a radical pair mechanism, the risk should be no greater than that associated with travelling a few kilometres toward or away from the geomagnetic poles (i.e., changes in Earth’s magnetic field strength).",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Modeling/simulation study (spin dynamics) rather than direct biological/epidemiological measurements",
        "Assumes effects, if any, are mediated by a radical pair mechanism",
        "Focuses on an upper bound for a specific field strength (~1 µT) and frequency (50/60 Hz)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely-low-frequency",
        "ELF",
        "50/60 Hz",
        "magnetic fields",
        "1 µT",
        "radical pairs",
        "spin dynamics simulations",
        "childhood leukemia (association mentioned)",
        "geomagnetic field"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.