The influence of static magnetic field (50 mT) on development and motor behaviour of Tenebrio (Insecta, Coleoptera).
Todorović D, Marković T, Prolić Z, Mihajlović S, Rauš S, Nikolić L, Janać B. · 2013
View Original AbstractStatic magnetic fields 1,000 times Earth's strength altered beetle behavior, showing biological systems can detect and respond to magnetic exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed beetles to a strong static magnetic field (1,000 times Earth's strength) and found it didn't affect development time but did alter movement patterns in one species, with effects varying by magnetic pole orientation, showing static fields can influence animal behavior.
Why This Matters
This study adds to growing evidence that magnetic fields can affect biological systems, even at the cellular and behavioral level. The 50 mT exposure used here is extremely strong compared to typical environmental exposures, but the fact that researchers found measurable behavioral changes demonstrates that living organisms can detect and respond to magnetic field exposure. What makes this research particularly interesting is that the effects varied by magnetic pole orientation, suggesting the biological response isn't simply about field strength but also field characteristics. While we can't directly extrapolate from beetle behavior to human health, studies like this help us understand the fundamental ways that magnetic fields interact with biological systems. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic fields aren't biologically inert, as some industry sources claim.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 50 mG
Exposure Context
This study used 50 mG for magnetic fields:
- 2.5Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 500Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
Duration of pupa-adult development and motor behaviour of adults were analyzed in Tenebrio obscursus and T. molitor after exposure to static magnetic field (50 mT).
The experimental groups were: Control (kept 5 m from the magnets), groups which pupae and adults wer...
Static magnetic field did not affect pupa-adult developmental dynamic of examined Tenebrio species. ...
Static magnetic field (50 mT) did not affect on pupa-adult development dynamic of two examined Tenebrio species, but modulated their motor behaviour.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2013_the_influence_of_static_723,
author = {Todorović D and Marković T and Prolić Z and Mihajlović S and Rauš S and Nikolić L and Janać B.},
title = {The influence of static magnetic field (50 mT) on development and motor behaviour of Tenebrio (Insecta, Coleoptera).},
year = {2013},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22849716/},
}