Response of aquatic protists to electric field exposure.
Miliša M, Đikić D, Mandić T, Grozić D, Čolić I, Ostojić A · 2017
View Original AbstractElectric fields at power line levels caused population decline and cellular damage in aquatic organisms within 24 hours.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed tiny aquatic organisms (protists) to electric fields similar to those found near power lines for 24 hours. They discovered that even weak electric fields caused significant biological changes, including reduced population sizes, altered cell shapes, and increased oxidative stress markers. The study suggests that electric fields specifically, rather than magnetic fields, are responsible for these harmful effects on living organisms.
Why This Matters
This research provides compelling evidence that electric fields alone can cause measurable biological harm, challenging the common focus on magnetic field effects in EMF research. The fact that these organisms experienced population decline, physical deformation, and cellular stress at field strengths comparable to those near transmission lines raises important questions about environmental EMF exposure standards. What makes this study particularly significant is its demonstration that water doesn't provide the protective barrier against electric fields that many assume it does. The researchers specifically noted that aquatic organisms deserve greater attention in EMF safety assessments, despite water's ability to reduce field strength. For anyone living near power lines or in areas with significant electrical infrastructure, this research adds to the growing body of evidence that our current safety standards may not adequately protect biological systems from the electric component of electromagnetic fields.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 24 hours
Study Details
To test the effects of short-term exposure of aquatic organisms to electric field (EF) with negligible magnetic component.
We built a plate capacitor that served as a source of EF of strengths that can be found in nature ne...
We found that even short-term exposure to low strength EF causes changes in population abundance, mo...
We suggest that the electric component of the field, rather than the magnetic, is the main cause of all the noted effects. As a result, aquatic organisms should be given greater importance in studies assessing the effects of EMFs in spite of the attenuating effects of water to EF strengths.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2017_response_of_aquatic_protists_1599,
author = {Miliša M and Đikić D and Mandić T and Grozić D and Čolić I and Ostojić A},
title = {Response of aquatic protists to electric field exposure.},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1080/09553002.2017.1321809},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2017.1321809},
}