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Title: Magnetite in human tissues: A mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields

Abstract

Due to the apparent lack of a biophysical mechanism, the question of whether weak, low-frequency magnetic fields are able to influence living organisms has long been one of the most controversial subjects in any field of science. However, two developments during the past decade have changed this perception dramatically, the first being the discovery that many organisms, including humans, biochemically precipitate the ferrimagnetic mineral magnetite (Fe3O4). In the magnetotactic bacteria, the geomagnetic response is based on either biogenic magnetite or greigite (Fe3S4), and reasonably good evidence exists that this is also the case in higher animals such as the honey bee. Second, the development of simple behavioral conditioning experiments for training honey bees to discriminate magnetic fields demonstrates conclusively that at least one terrestrial animal is capable of detecting earth-strength magnetic fields through a sensory process. In turn, the existence of this ability implies the presence of specialized receptors which interact at the cellular level with weak magnetic fields in a fashion exceeding thermal noise. A simple calculation shows that magnetosomes moving in response to earth-strength ELF fields are capable of opening trans-membrane ion channels, in a fashion similar to those predicted by ionic resonance models. Hence, the presence ofmore » trace levels of biogenic magnetite in virtually all human tissues examined suggests that similar biophysical processes may explain a variety of weak field ELF bioeffects. 61 refs.« less

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6702339
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Bioelectromagnetics (New York); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0197-8462
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; MAGNETITE; BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS; TISSUE DISTRIBUTION; BACTERIA; BEES; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; IRON; OXIDES; ANIMALS; ARTHROPODS; CHALCOGENIDES; DISTRIBUTION; ELEMENTS; HYMENOPTERA; INSECTS; INVERTEBRATES; IRON ORES; KINETICS; METALS; MICROORGANISMS; MINERALS; ORES; OXIDE MINERALS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; REACTION KINETICS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS; 560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects; 550500 - Metabolism

Citation Formats

Kirschvink, J L, Kobayashi-Kirschvink, A, Diaz-Ricci, J C, and Kirschvink, S J. Magnetite in human tissues: A mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields. United States: N. p., 1992. Web. doi:10.1002/bem.2250130710.
Kirschvink, J L, Kobayashi-Kirschvink, A, Diaz-Ricci, J C, & Kirschvink, S J. Magnetite in human tissues: A mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250130710
Kirschvink, J L, Kobayashi-Kirschvink, A, Diaz-Ricci, J C, and Kirschvink, S J. 1992. "Magnetite in human tissues: A mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250130710.
@article{osti_6702339,
title = {Magnetite in human tissues: A mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields},
author = {Kirschvink, J L and Kobayashi-Kirschvink, A and Diaz-Ricci, J C and Kirschvink, S J},
abstractNote = {Due to the apparent lack of a biophysical mechanism, the question of whether weak, low-frequency magnetic fields are able to influence living organisms has long been one of the most controversial subjects in any field of science. However, two developments during the past decade have changed this perception dramatically, the first being the discovery that many organisms, including humans, biochemically precipitate the ferrimagnetic mineral magnetite (Fe3O4). In the magnetotactic bacteria, the geomagnetic response is based on either biogenic magnetite or greigite (Fe3S4), and reasonably good evidence exists that this is also the case in higher animals such as the honey bee. Second, the development of simple behavioral conditioning experiments for training honey bees to discriminate magnetic fields demonstrates conclusively that at least one terrestrial animal is capable of detecting earth-strength magnetic fields through a sensory process. In turn, the existence of this ability implies the presence of specialized receptors which interact at the cellular level with weak magnetic fields in a fashion exceeding thermal noise. A simple calculation shows that magnetosomes moving in response to earth-strength ELF fields are capable of opening trans-membrane ion channels, in a fashion similar to those predicted by ionic resonance models. Hence, the presence of trace levels of biogenic magnetite in virtually all human tissues examined suggests that similar biophysical processes may explain a variety of weak field ELF bioeffects. 61 refs.},
doi = {10.1002/bem.2250130710},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6702339}, journal = {Bioelectromagnetics (New York); (United States)},
issn = {0197-8462},
number = ,
volume = 1,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}